all dodgers

I already miss Tony Abreu

2009-12-27T22:39:00.002-09:00

Tony? uh....

gold glove caliber defense and a decent enough stick should have been enough for him to stay in LA. He is a 3 WAR (wins above replacement) player and I expect him to really solidify an Arizona defense while Garland is working mop up duty in San Diego, or wherever he signs.

Defense

2009-11-11T00:44:00.002-09:00

Apparently the Reds need a bit of money off the books. And supposedly Brandon Phillips is available. While Phillips does not have a great eye, he does provide some semblance of power and decent defense, at least better than the over rated Orlando Hudson. Hudson made some nice plays this year but he is hardly a gold glove. The good part about him getting a golf glove is that it boosts most teams interest in him, thereby allowing the Dodgers the opportunity to offer him arbitration and collect a few draft picks for him. (by the way, Chase Utley had the best defensive season at second base by a huge margin this season. Hudson actually was of negative value not actually ranking in the top ten.)

As good as the Dodgers were this season, their defense was quite terrible. When you consider the best defending team, the Mariners, had 3 players win Fielding Bible awards (out of 9 available). Jack Wilson is not the best offensive player but his glove is so good that it is as worthy as Derek Jeter's bat. Ichiro and Gutierrez are so good defensively that in all truth they don't need pitchers that are good because their defense is so good!

Andre Ethier was so bad in Right Field that it was "Manny'esque". Furcal, Blake, and Martin were the lone positive contributors on defense. Furcal and Blake played above their normal abilities. It is very well noted that Furcal has quite terrible footwork and usually relies upon his terrific arm. A good defense adds to the quality of the pitching staff. Wonder why Jarrod Washburn was so good in Seattle and so terrible in Detroit?

Even Matt Kemp was only an average defender this year. He looked good out there and made some nice plays, but he was only as good as a good right fielder. It would be nice to see Kemp in right, but really he has done an admirable job in center. Speaking of Kemp. The Yankees just won their 27th world series, the '27 Yankees is arguably the best team ever assembled... and Matt Kemp is #27. While Kemp is one of the best center fielders in recent Dodger history, I can see him traded to fill both our needed holes at 2B and in the rotation. Robinson Cano and Joba Chamberlain. Pierre would take over in center. Not that I want this scenario to happen... I just have a gut feeling that Kemp is unappreciated, just as is Ethier, Martin, Billinglsey, Kershaw, Broxton, and any other home grown player we have. It seems to be the tone of the Dodgers front office, that, if given the right situation, they'd be more than willing to trade any prospect for a good veteran any day, regardless of actual talent.

Back to defense. Manny can be upgraded on next year simply by moving Ethier to left and having a prospect play right. My vote goes to Kyle Russell, former slugger from UT. He plays pretty good defense, has good speed and has a great arm. He is of the same mold as Adam Dunn but can actually play defense! Tons of homers, tons of walks, tons of K's. In my opinion strike outs aren't as bad as everyone makes them out to be. Not much more different than a pop-up or ground out. And better than a double-play but not as good as a sac fly.

The pitching staff will continue to suffer with exceptionally weak links like Manny, Ethier, Loney, and Hudson filling the gaps. Second base is prime position to have either an elite glove or elite bat to fill the position, but if all you do is sign someone be mediocre at defense and offense, then you aren't actually getting better than your competition. I'd rather save the draft picks and the cash and have Blake Dewitt and Chin Lung Hu split time at second while keeping it warm for Devaris Gordon. Ivan DeJesus can take over for Furcal in a few years and were set.

The 09 Regular Season

2009-11-02T01:28:00.008-09:00

I found a neat graph called Diamond View Composite made by the good boys at www.beyondtheboxscore.com They evaluated players and created a graphical representation on their findings. Here is their graph of Carlos Pena

Here is a link to their creation.

As you can see, the problem with their graphs is the inability to sum up a players negative worth without somehow affecting their positive worth in another category. For instance, Adam Dunn has huge Power and Hitting numbers while his defense is arguably the worst in all of baseball and somehow it effects his power and hitting numbers. There is an easy fix to solve this problem. While using a percentage of players that would qualify for the batting title in their league and taking the high/ low numbers and making them the 100/0 % rate for the league you can find what rate your player is in relation to the best and worst the league has to offer. Narrow that down to the position he plays and you get a better understanding of how your player fits into this conversation. So, that is exactly what I did for the Dodger regulars minus Hudson. I will evaluate the free agent 2B and possible trade targets in my next post.

ISO was used for power numbers ( Isolated Power (ISO) is a measure of a hitter's raw power, in terms of extra bases per AB. Its formula is ISO = (2B + (3B*2) + (HR*3)) / AB ) The ML leader for catchers had a .222 ISO and the bottom dweller was at .064. Martin was at .079. His ISO rate was at 9%. Not good.
Just the same as the Diamondview graph I used OBP for hitting, UZR/150 (The number of runs above or below average a fielder is, per 150 defensive games.) for defense and EqBRR for baserunning.

and here is the rest of the regulars.

My hand drawn graphs aren't as "pretty" but you get the gist of the exercise. The complete player will fill the graph. Someone like Manny will only fill half the graph, which isn't that bad if he were a DH. This graph puts an equal emphasis on all the divisions where in most cases some of them should be weighted differently based on your team needs and values. The Dodgers need an all around second baseman this offseason, so getting Dan Uggla might not be as necessary. I would expect better numbers from Loney, Furcal, and Martin next year and our need at second base would be for a guy who can handle the glove and contribute with the bat. A guy like Orlando Hudson...

Other teams, like the Mariners, have several holes and even more options. They need possibly a LF'er, a SS, a 1B-man, and possibly a 3B-man. SS and 3B might be an area where you look to upgrade (or in thier case) hold serve defensively. Beltre and Wilson might be the top of the class with the glove in their respective positions. However, they would certainly need to upgrade 1B and LF offensively while maybe sacrificing some defense. I'm not going to do the graphs for the Mariners, but it was a fun exercise on evaluating players. Maybe there isn't just one all encompassing stat that can express a players full talent, but there is a graph that can represent a players full talent. I'm sure there is a program out there that I can use to get the area of the graphs and convert it into a percentage and call it the players worth against the league maximum... something to look into.

Looking to 2010

2009-08-05T13:48:00.003-08:00

I am the epitome of offseason/free agent/trade rumor mongering junkie. So looking forward to 2010 is nothing of note in my book. Though anyone else might suggest that 2009 is soooo promising and exciting. I can't deny the idea that 2009 might be the year the Dodgers finally break through to go deep in the playoffs. It's been a wonderful season thus far and can only get better. Although...

2010 could be even better!

Jason Schmidt comes off the books and really he is the only significant salary dump we can assume here. Maybe Randy Wolf gets resigned as he has pitched like an elite pitcher. Worthy of at least of a mid rotation type pitcher worth a 3 year contract probably at a double digit rate per million range. 3 yrs at 30 million'ish. He's worth it.

The only position player leaving for free agency is Orlando Hudson. He has been a solid signing all year and if he hits all his bonuses will make roughly 8 million this year. Mota, Ohman, Loretta, Ausmus, and Castro will be other free agents. If the season goes well, I think we can expect Ausmus and Loretta back next year. Maybe even Mota? Though I think Mota would look for more money somewhere else as a closer/set up man. (Shrug) That leaves an open spot in the rotation and at second base.

If Tony Abreau (of all people) continues to impress I don't think we need to sign Hudson to a contract extension simply because he will demand much more on the free agent front and he has a serious injuy history. He is however, a very talented player and a huge clubhouse spring. As far as I know Abreau is nothing but talent, a glove, great hands and footwork at second, and an improving bat. I'd like to see him or Dewitt batting behind Furcal next year playing second base.

I'm not exactly sure what to do on the starting pitching front. Some mixture of Elbert, MacDonald, and throw-ins like Weaver etc, should get the job done in the 5th spot. Jason Marquis will be available should we not sign Wolf? As is John Lackey. There aren't that many options out there.

I think I would like to see Ned try and make a creative trade for a power 1B bat. Prince Fielder maybe. Loney is a league average player with already declining power. Fielder has heart and power and an increasing salary that the Brewers might not be able to afford next year. Loney and pieces for Prince should get the job done.

And of course, I will always plug the "TRADE JUAN PIERRE, BECAUSE HE STINKS" here. If Ned can get rid of Juanita this offseason, the Dodgers will be a better team for it. Hopefully he goes to an AL team where he can't hurt us.

It's never too early to think about the future.

In the Dirt... literally

2009-07-21T19:24:00.002-08:00

Homer Bailey throws one in the dirt... and I mean in the dirt.

Raffy

2009-07-16T02:29:00.002-08:00

Raffy has had his struggles this year. I suppose we can claim that he is still kinda getting his feet wet after the back surgery last year. I guess.... with only 5 stolen bases and 4 caught stealing... well, his speed is obviously gone. And really it has been a tale of two Raffy's. When leading off he is batting 278/350/377. When batting behind Pierre he is 201/272/276. All the more reason to dump Pierre now while his stock is kinda high. It's not like we dont have a few guys that could fill that 4th ourfielder spot. I look forward to Furcal breaking out of his shell for the second half. Ofcourse, through July so far he is 372/460/558. So there!

Orlando!

2009-07-16T02:19:00.002-08:00

I hate to say something like this, but Orlando is kinda overrated. His offense has been nice and his defense is certainly an improvement over Kant. But... he really lacks the range now that he is 32. His bat has been a surprisingly solid structure in a very weak lineup. He gets on base and hits for decent power. He also has a ton of K's. His recent struggles at the plate are typical ups and downs of playing in the majors and we can expect him to return to his career norms. Certainly not as hot as he was when the season started, but not near as cold as he was entering Milwaukee. At the moment there is no one else I'd want at second for the rest of this year. Good job Orlando... stay healthy.

James Loney

2009-07-16T02:10:00.003-08:00

Another dissappointing season for James. Like last year, James is a singles hitter that makes a lot of contact, but rarely makes good contact. His power numbers have also dipped, at least from what is expected of him.

At the plate James ranks near the bottom of all qualified first basemen just above Casey Kotchman and below Adam Laroche. With the glove he is merely league average. He isn't as bad as Giambi or Prince, but even Ryan Howard has proven to be able to play a good first base. Even with an admirable second baseman that can cover more ground that Kent, James is still just a league average player. This is a position where I think the Dodgers can vastly upgrade their offense, especially while Loneys stock is still relatively high. He may still have a bright future, but I can't see it getting much better than what he already is. League Average. I like him, nice guy, crazy eyes, but just a singles hitter. I expect better, and I don't think James is the guy that can do that for us.

First half roundup - Russell

2009-07-16T02:00:00.002-08:00

Russell has been the biggest dissappointment by far this year. His defense will always be pretty good, but he wont ever throw many batters out because it seems that Charlie Hough (though has worked wonders in James Macdonald) hasn't taught any of our pitchers to hold runners on, or a decent change up. But thats a different story.

At the plate J. Martin has shown no power, but a huge walk rate. Are pitchers pitching around him? It seems that Russell is trying to force the issue too much. He's trying to force the ball to left or to right. He gets a little clogged in his swing and maybe tenses up. I don't know, but whatever it is, he needs to figure it out, because the bullpenn is short a bit and someone other than Manny is going to have to start producing. The good news is that Russ appears to be playing better. He really needs to get out there and not have an agenda. Just react to the pitch and hit it solid. Sounds easy huh? hah.

Trade ideas... 3 moves at the break

2009-07-13T11:18:00.004-08:00

I think this was the entire reason that I created this blog. So I can vent my backward ideas without having to madden the people with real baseball identities. The ideas I have are usually based on a video game version of what I think is possible and are so unlikely that I would have better luck at actually trying to become the GM of the Dodgers and propose the actual trades.

Anyway, here goes. Let me first off say that I love the current Dodger team. Great chemistry, home grown, young, talent, with huge upside. But...

I would first trade Russell Martin to the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay. Straight up. Maybe there are a few PTBNL types, but nothing to write home about. Russell has denied the Dodgers from locking him up to a long term, lucrative deal and it seems likely that he will hit the free agent market in 3 years and leave LA. He is the spine of the best team in baseball. The hard part is that at the moment he is struggling mightily. I love Russell, but he is Canadian and I have a feeling that he wont be around for the long haul anyway.

2) Trade McDonals, Elbert, Bell, Mattingly, and Lucas May for Victor Martinez.

3) Trade Loney and Pierre for Todd Helton.

I'm almost certain that all my trades are just a ploy on ridding myself of Juan Pierre.

Our lineup is significantly stronger and our pitching staff is unbeatable. Then I would try and address the bullpenn. But really, the only person I want at the moment that wont cost much would be Takashi Saito, of all people. It looks like Broxton might miss some time and Belli will certainly be out a few more weeks. Saito might be an easy get for Ned.

Furcal
Kemp
V-Mart
Manny
Helton
Blake
Ethier
Huddy
P

Loretta
Meintchavatichithcaz
Ausmus
Castro
Paul

Halladay
Bills
Kershaw
Kuroda
Wolf

Broxton
Tron
Belli
Saito
Leach
Mota
Weaver

Doesn't get any better than that!

All Star Break

2009-07-13T00:25:00.002-08:00

While the Dodgers have comfortably padded their lead in the NL West, its surprising to see that the next best team in the NL is the Giants. At 7 games back they are better than the Cardinals (1st in central) and Phillies (1st in east). And the Rockies are only 2 games back from the Giants. Only the Padres and D-Backs are the true jokes of the NL West. AND, the NL West is no longer the basement of the NL.

Tomorrow I will try and put together some stats that explain Furcal, Loney, and Martin's poor first halves, and then rank each position player in the NL.

What is Juan Pierre doing to Andre Ethier?

2009-06-18T11:54:00.002-08:00

Matt Kemp singled home Orlando Hudson for a walk off win. Celebration ensued.... and Juan Pierre saw this as his chance to mount Andre Ethier. I know Andre is a good looking guy and all, but couldn't it have waited till after the camera's were off, or at least talk to him about it first?

here is a link to the video: http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5084667&c_id=la where it appears as though Juan really is thrusting and "jousting" Andre. And the look on Andre's face! Head down, fists clenched, it really was a "brokeback moutain" moment.

Just take a pitch already!

2009-06-05T00:07:00.004-08:00

It seems as though Hamels was just lights out tonight. There were a few times in the game when it was concievable that we might get a shot, but alas, our patience had struck out.

Martin and Ethier were clearly not themselves at the dish, while Pierre is looking more and more like... well... Pierre. Its a matter of time before he begins his regression to the mean. As for Martin, who knows? Maybe he is injured? Maybe he should dump his crazy girlfrind?

Anyway, Hamels had 17 three pitch at bats, according to Vin. And I doubt that there were that many 0-2 counts. We were off for one game and Hamels was on. Lets come back tomorrow and make some magic for Milton.

Mota finished the game recording 5 outs! Apparently Ausmus gave him some pointers about hiding the ball better and tightening up his delivery. Seems to be working. I still dont trust him, but as long as he comes in for mop up duty and doesn't walk anyone, I'm happy.

Bowa Boner.

2009-01-29T09:49:00.004-09:00

To quote Boner himself:

"I'm going to tell you something. If Manny doesn't sign with us, we're in deep trouble. Deep, deep, deep trouble...We're going to be lost without a guy of that caliber a hitter in our lineup...There's two places I really don't want him. The other place is Anaheim because we'd have to read about it every day. If he goes to the Giants, the Giants have definitely improved their ballclub, and if they put a hitter like that in the lineup, they'll be the team to beat I think."

"Manny is sort of that constant in that lineup," Bowa said. "With the kids, you don't know what you're going to get."

I agree that Manny was impressive last year and that "the kids" underperformed. But, between Martin, Loney, Kemp, and Ethier, we know pretty darn well that they are good enough to be on any starting roster in baseball. The worst thing for the Dodgers right now is crochety old dudes who think "young kids" are ruining the game because they get paid more. While I enjoy Bowa's feistyness and "giddyup", I hate that he is officially "the old guy that finds a reason to hate everyone".

What's more is, before Furcal went down, "the kids" were part of a team that hosted the 3rd best offense in all of baseball. Cenrtainly Manny is better than the alternative (Pierre or Dunn), but to suggest that we are nothing without Manny is absurd. Without Manny, right now, we are a better team than last year. Furcal is an upgrade at short, if he is healthy. Blake is an upgrade at third. Dewitt is an upgrade at second. Pierre, surprisingly, is an upgrade in left, over having Jones in center.

I'd certainly welcome Manny if he wants to come back. But 2 years 45 million is a very generous offer and he should consider taking it before it becomes 1 year 17 million. At least he isn't Bobby Abreu, who will likely sign for 1 year 5 million.

The main concern for this team is the starting pitching... and the bullpenn. Why Guillermo Mota? I could see signing him for half a million with incentives, but he really isn't worth more than what McDonald, Elbert, Stults, or Troncoso will be able to do. I just don't see the value of adding a guy like with little value for so much money. Why not just resign Beimel? I just don't get the signings.

Considering the starting pitching: I guess only Randy Wolf is left... or Braden Looper. Looper is older and perhaps more reliable and a better pitcher. Wolf has pretty good K ratios which will bode well for the weak Dodger defense. In reality were looking at adding two starting pitchers. Why not sign both. Put Looper in the pen when we don't need him until April 25th and use Wolf as the 4th starter. Not the best situation... but not terribly horrible either.

Bills
Kershaw
Kuroda
Wolf
Looper

Broxton
Kuo
Wade
Mota
Troncoso
Elbert
McDonald

I have no problem with that.

Calling all NES geeks!

2009-01-24T10:44:00.003-09:00

Here's a little treat for ya!

So, the video quality isn't the best... I just need to get a new camera.

Even cooler is that there are other versions. One where you can play at the old Yankee stadium. One where you can play at Wrigley Field. Another where you can play at an option of 6 stadiums including Fenway. In the Fenway game you can also play a season or a tournament. It really opens up a whole new game for me!

I did some studying up on ROM hacking to see if there were a way to get a game with all 30 stadiums, the season option and editable players... looks like a lot of work. Maybe when I am done with school.

So boring!

2009-01-14T11:24:00.002-09:00

One guy getting little to no interest from anyone is Ray Durham! To go along with Garret Anderson, Eric Hinske, Jim Edmonds, Paul Byrd, and Fatdalis Perez, Durham might be a valuable assett on the bench with Loretta. Defensively he plays only one position. But truely his only value comes from his bat. It's not what it once was, but his plate discipline is impressive and he does swing it from both sides. Should something happen to Delwyn or Loretta he'd be a nice option coming off the bench or in spot starts at 2nd. In the next few weeks there are going to be a lot of singings.

Manny Ramirez
Orlando Cabrera
Adam Dunn
Bobby Abreu
Ben Sheets
Orlando Hudson
Andy Pettitte
Jason Varitek
Ty Wigginton
Ivan Rodriguez
Kevin Millar
Mark Grudzielanek
Braden Looper

Free Agent signings

2009-01-14T08:35:00.002-09:00

I think it is safe to say that Ned Colletti has done a bad job with his free agent signings. We all know that. But lets take a different look at this situation alltogether.

1. The Dodgers currently have 10 free agents that still haven't signed with anyone this offseason. Only the Red Sox and Mets are close. Of the remaining (Joe Beimel, lhp; Gary Bennett, c; Nomar Garciaparra, ss; Jason Johnson, rhp; Jeff Kent, 2b; Greg Maddux, rhp (aanounced retirement); Pablo Ozuna; Manny Ramirez, of; Mark Sweeney) only Beimel and Nomar might be able to get a contract that guarantees them a spot on the 25 man roster or DL. Manny, Kent, and Maddux are all set to retire. But the rest of the guys are crap. No one will sign them. And to be honest I'm surprised anyone signed Berroa.

2. No one wants the current FA signings we have. Think of any of our current position players that were signed as free agents. Schmidt, Furcal, Pierre, Jones, Kuroda, Blake, Loretta... do you think anyone would want them in a trade. I think teams might take a flier on Loretta. And someone might add Furcal, Kuroda, and Blake if we put some money in the pot. But clearly no one wants Pierre, Jones, or Schmidt.

Ned has done such a terrible job at putting together a team that can be flexible, moveable contracts that he has no room to sign one of the greatest right handed batters of all time. Granted, the game he is playing with Boras is legendary. Lets just hope he waits it out and pulls of 2 year deal with 3rd year option. I have a bad feeling that ultimately he will end up with the Giants.

Anyway... this post was focused directly on the bad signings of Ned Colletti. It can only get worse with names like Kris Benson, Jon Garland, and Randy Wolf being bandied about.

The End of an era....

2009-01-06T14:05:00.002-09:00

Sayonara Andruw Jones. Apparently team officials want Jones gone by January 15th. No sense in keeping him until after the he proves he can do something and try and trade him and save 5 million. Lets just cut our ties now and let him show progress with some other team on our dime. It just begs me to ask one question...

When will the Ned Colletti era end?

cross your fingers.

Good and Bad news.

2009-01-05T12:58:00.002-09:00

The good news is that Pat Burell signed with the Rays for an annual salary of 8 million dollars. This means the price for Manny should drop off quite a bit. I had Burrell going for at least 10-12 million a year. Last year Pat made 14 million and it's concieveable that he's be looking for a slight bump this year. For him to take half of what was projected just shows you the market for baseclogging/non-defensive hitmen.

The bad news: If Burell is going for roughly half of what was expected this brings Manny into play for a lot more teams. Manny at 15 million instead of 25 million makes both New York teams, the Giants, Angels, any AL team, and the Dodgers into the bidding war for him. In the end I don't think anyone can offer him more than what the Dodgers can, but does this mean some desperate AL team offers him the 6 year deal he is looking for? Even if the annual salary is only 15 million a year, thats still 90 million bucks. I can't see the Dodgers going past 3 years and 60-70 million.

If we can have Dunn at 9 million a year he is totally worth it! I'm not as sure about him playing first as I once was, but it is an option. Even Bobby Abreu at less than 10 million a year is a steal. If that would mean Ethier moves back to left our outfield defense would be a significant upgrade. Granted Abreu's defensive numbers have dropped off quite a bit. I still think I'd rather have Manny in left for 3 years and 66.6 million. The number is fitting.

Payroll

2008-12-30T13:48:00.002-09:00

http://mlbcontracts.blogspot.com/2005/01/los-angeles-dodgers.html

According to Cott's baseball contracts the Dodgers have, roughly, 88 million locked up for the 2009 season. I am estimating 5 million each for Ethier, Martin, and Broxton. I think Martin and Ethier will get more than 5 and Broxton less, but in the end were talking about less than 2 million each way. So the payroll is currently between 82-94 million range. Still far less than last year.

And while we are still not using our resources to the best of their abilities (Dewitt at second?), we still have enough cash free to sign Manny. But we also need at least one more starter. We are still 28 million below what we were at last year, but given the decline in the economy, I am to assume that we will be somewhere in the 110 million range.

A guy like Andy Pettitte must be on the dodgers radar. At 10 million next year I'll take him over having Sheets, Perez, or Garland all of which have significant draw backs and multiple year contract requests. Garland might be the pony of the group. He would eat innings at a terrible cost. Perez would be a nightmare watcing because he walks everyone. And Sheets is just another Jason Schmidt in the making. He's missed significant time 3 of his last 4 years. He's been effective, but what we need is someone to eat innings (be healthy), be effective, and also not cost us more than one year.

Randy Johnson right?

Wrong.

Anyway, Pettitte should be the only one on the Dodgers list. If we could trade Jones and eat some of the salary then great. But I'd rather just send him to Albuquerque and hope he figures it out.

Hopefully after signing Pettitte we still have enough money to make a run at Manny for 2 years and 45 million again. Backload the contract so we can pay him more when Jones and Schmidt leave.

By 2010 Martin, Ethier, Broxton, and Bills will all qualify for a bump. It's only going to get harder from here on out. I hope Ned gets fired!

Just spitballin here...

2008-12-29T11:10:00.002-09:00

So, cut me a little slack.

Jason Stark has come out and said that the Dodgers are interested in signing Adam Dunn. Surely not to play left field!? While Dunn is a power threat I still think Manny would be needed in our order. So Loney would have to go... for a starting pitcher! But who?

I've expressed my interest in Bedard already. If we signed Dunn and Manny, we'd also have to shed some payroll. Naturally no one would want to take on Jones or Pierre all by themselves. I think we'd have to pair either of them up with Loney and Hu and take on a mediocrely bad contract.

Something like this really hamstrings the process, so Ned better have something lined up before signing Dunn. I think if he were actually going to sign Dunn he would have done it already. I think this is just a scare tactic. Manny will sign eventually with the Dodgers and take 22-25 million over 2 years with a third option. I like the direction this is going for the Dodgers. I wouldn't mind if we signed Dunn to play first and traded Loney for a decent starting pitcher while also ridding ourselves of Jones or Pierre. Could you imagine the lineup?

Furcal
Martin
Dunn
Manny
Ethier
Kemp
Blake
Dewitt
P

Not too bad. Plenty of power and OBP at the top and some clutchiness/veteranyness/potential at the bottom. I like it. So that means its not going to happen. I still don't like have Casey Blake but whatever.

Better options at SP.

2008-12-28T23:21:00.003-09:00

After some excessive research (on youtube) I could see a possibility of the Dodgers plunging into the international market. While it can be argued that Ned has hamstringed the farm by not spending any money at all on international players, whoever is scouting the japanese market is clearly doing a great job. To say we need more of it is an understatement.

Takashi Saito and Hiroki Kuroda could possibly get some company with either Kenshin Kawakami or Koji Uerehara. I like both pitchers. Both have decent K rates and go deep into the season. Both supposedly have similar traits to Kuroda as "big game pitchers". If we could sign either of them (or both... unlikely) for a similar contract to Kuroda I'd be happy with it. Considering our optoins are now limited to :

Pedro Martinez
Eric Milton
Oliver Perez
Ben Sheets
Randy Wolf
Andy Pettitte

I'd rather take the international route as well.

So... there goes that.

2008-12-28T22:09:00.004-09:00

Johnson is off the table. Thanks to the giants I can hate a player that is easy to hate. The official Red-Arse will be pitching for the Orange and Black next year throwing his 45 year old 90 mile an hour fast balls to Dodger hitters not likely named Manny Ramirez.

The Dodgers largest hole is still in the rotation. Even if we don't sign Manny we have options that could play reasonably well in left field. A Juandruw Pones monster in left/center would be a nasty thing to see. It would also be an abomination to have to settle with a 4th and 5th starter giving us laegue average or less quality because McCourt couldn't drop the cash on decent players. The well is drying up fast. And if Ben Sheets is still eyeing Texas our option shortens to .... gulp... Andy Pettitte.

Over the last 4 years he has been a little more durable than I would like to remember, but he hasn't been very effective. And at 10+ million dollars being called Randy Johnson Lite at a fraction of the cost isn't very reassuring.

While the talk around the net is about Manny being freed up for the Dodgers and literally no one else, the Dodgers largest hole is still in the pitching staff. Who else is there.

I had conversations with my brother concerning Eric Bedard. I suppose my main concern is that if he couldn't handle the big lights in Seattle, what would enable him to settle down in LA and become the lights out pitcher of 2007? Surely we'd be able to get him without giving up anyone on our current 25 man roster. I'd send Hu, Miller, Orenduff, Repko, and another throw in. I doubt that would get it done, but you never know? Naturally it would be a temporary fix. But Hu is only going to be a caddy to Furcal/Dewitt up the middle and finding someone to replace him shouldn't go any further than our own farm system.

The main reason why I would consider Bedard is because, 1. was good last year when he wasn't hurt, 2. he is canadian. I could only assume that he and Martin would get along well enough to overcome the "playing in the big city" effect.

Miller, Orenduff and Repko are nothing that the current team wont miss. Getting any kind of value for these 4 would be a great coupe. I doubt, again, that Ned would pull off such a deal and I figure he could only be thinking that something like this could only be done by sending Kershaw over. It sounds so illogical it makes sense. Not to me... but when I put my "Colletti-dunce" hat on it all lines up.

Before we can address Manny we need one more starter.

Predictions update.

2008-12-23T14:41:00.002-09:00

So Teixiera has signed with the Yankees. Supposedly. At least this is not a FOXSports rumor. ESPN has reported that Teixiera has signed with the Yankees for 180 million over 8 years. At the beginning of the offseason it seemes simple to think that the Yankees would target Tex after losing Giambi and Abreu. Instead they traded junk for Swisher and added starting pitching depth only to come away with Teixiera before Boston could counter.

This just means its less likely that they also add Manny. Unless they trade any one or two of Melky, Swisher, Nady, Matsui and Damon. I don't think that they will hold onto all 5 but it might not be such a bad idea as Matsui and Damon are both huge injury risks. Nady is best as a part time player and Melky is best at AAA. They really should target a real centerfielder like Mike Cameron or more starting pitching depth.

This just makes it more likely that the Dodgers sign Manny. Unfortunately it also means that since Ned has the advantage in negotiations he will likely sign Manny to a 3 or 4 year deal. I still think it'd be best to just let him go and collect the picks.

Apparently Derek Lowe is in conversations with the Mets. It seems more likely that the Mets add a starting pitcher before targeting a bat like Burrell. If he signs with the Mets we get their 1st round pick and a sandwich pick. Hopefully Manny signs with someone other than the Yankees because we would get their 2nd round pick and a sandwich pick.

I still maintain that the Dodgers would do well to add maybe one or 2 starters. Id be happy with any 1 or 2 of Oliver Perez, Randy Johnson, or Ben Sheets. I'd be happy with Johnson and Sheets at 20 million total. Anything more than that and we are taking a significant risk. I't would be hard to justify signing Perez. He has high walk rates and is incredibly erratic. I like Sheets and Johnsons control as the current mix of youth we throw out there is still struggling with control. Plus Perez is a Borass client. We can't have any of that now.

Top Remaning free agents predictions

2008-12-19T12:04:00.002-09:00

1. Mark Teixiera- Boston Red Sox.

2. Manny- New York Yankees.

3. Derek Lowe- Atlanta Braves

4. Adam Dunn- Washinton Nationals

5. Ben Sheets- Texas Rangers

6. Jason Giambi- Oakland A's

7. Milton Bradley- Toronto Blue Jays

8. Orlando Hudson- Seattle Mariners

9. Pat Burrell- New York Mets

10. Brian Fuentes- St. Louis Cardinals

11. Bobby Abreu- Cincinnatti Reds

Dodgers get Furcal.

2008-12-17T16:35:00.003-09:00

Furcal gets $7.5 million next season, $9.5 million in 2010 and $13 million in 2011. The deal includes a $13 million team option for 2012 with a $3 million buyout.

It's a backloaded deal. So maybe Ned is intending on spending more on a starting pitcher now. I still think an incentive laden deal was best.

With roughly 8 million to Furcal, 6 to Blake, and 1.25 to Loretta we still have about 35 million to spend this offseason. We need a starting pitcher and I am afraid that Ned will waste a lot of money on ANOTHER outfielder. I hope not.

I don't think we're gonna get Manny and the next best option is Dunn. That said, Ned will probably settle with Burell at 16 million. BAH!

Update: The numbers are different. 6.5 next year. 8.5 in 2010 and 12 in 2011 with an option for 13 million in 2012. Even better.

Furcal update.

2008-12-17T13:16:00.003-09:00

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8954110/Sources:-Furcal-picks-Dodgers-over-Braves

According to Ken Rosencrap Furcal has chosen to sign with the Dodgers. If it is true (don't hold your breath- consider the source) it appears that Furcal chose the Dodgers because he would be able to play short. Whereas playing in Atlanta meants playing second base. Dollar numbers would likely be very similar at about 10 million a year for 3 years with a 4th option year.

If this is true the Dodgers just got better. They still need an effective starting pitcher. That might be had by using our own resources more effectively.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/hidden-gem-ramon-troncoso

Dave Cameron, writer at ussmariner, suggests using Troncoso as a starter. His groundball rates are Derek Lowe'esque, and his strikeout rates are Jake Peavey'esque. What a mixture! Don't let his ERA fool you. He does have a great power sinker and if he could mix a good slider and an offspeed pitch in there he really might be poised for stardom. Again: Don't hold your breath. He will be a nice addition to the bullpenn in a long relief role/ spot stater role to go along with Scott Elbert and James McDonald.

Our best option in the free agent market right now is to sign Randy Johnson. He doesn't block anyone from coming up in 2010. He is still effective and he is a veteran precense... which is worth an extra 6.75 wins per season (according to Colletti-logic). I think if we were signing an outfielder I'd still want someone with some defensive abilities. That rules out all the current free agent outfielders...

So lets just stick with Jones in center, Ethier in left (his natural position) and Kemp in right (his natural position). By saving runs defensively the team can manage to win more games. Manny would help, but having Kemp and Ethier out of position the outfield defense is abysmal. Kemp is league average in center and Ethier is terrible in right. They both have great arms no matter what position they are playing but their range and effectiveness suffers when out of position.

The difference between a good offense and a great defense is a push. Except we save the money used on Manny for another day. Or even possibly a better starting pitcher. I know having Jones play full time is not everyone's ideal situation, well it's downright lunacy, but it is our best option.

Furcal

2008-12-16T13:02:00.002-09:00

So here is the contract I'd offer.

A 4 years 32 million dollar base salary with a games played incentive.

If he playes 140 games in year one of the contract he gets a 2 millon dollar bonus with a 2 millon dollar bonus after year 2. The same bonus would carry over to year 2, 3, and 4. Making it potentially a 4 year 52 million dollar contract if he plays in 140 games all 4 years. He is worth the money if he is healthy.

Adversely if he does not play 140 games in a year he only gets his base salary of 8 million. The problem is going to be if he starts to play hurt again like he did in 07. I still like having him around when he is healthy, but if he is not healthy I don't want to waste so much money.

I still think he signs with the Braves though. Cross your fingers.

And the mystery team is...

2008-12-16T09:57:00.002-09:00

the Braves.

Furcal did indeed agree to terms with the Atlanta Braves today. Reports had Furcal being offered contracts from the A's, Royals, Dodgers, and a "mystery team".

Furcal chose the Braves and what they have done created some flexability for the future. If they aren't comfortable with Yunel Escobar they can make a misdeason trade and pick up a valuable pitcher. Meanwhile Furcal will move to second and Kelly Johnson will play left field.

The Dodgers hopes of fielding a playoff worthy team is slowly slipping down the drain. The good news is, the worse this team gets, the better the liklihood of Joe Torre and Ned Colletti getting fired gets. So, lets just play for 2010!

Hopefully we don't sign anyone else that could impact the team negatively for 2010 (Casey Blake, Manny Ramirez, etc). I can only hope that we also don't make any blunderous trades for players that will be free agents after next year. It seems Colletti is willing to trade prospects on the cheap and sign aging free agents to lucrative long term deals. This the exact opposite plan he should be taking at building a major league team.

Anyway, next years free agent crop looks a little better than this years. Considering we don't truely have a leadoff hitter anymore (unless you consider Pierre a leadoff hitter... and then I would consider you mentally challenged) next year Brian Roberts will be a free agent. Of course he would be blocking Blake Dewitt at second and Dewitt can't move to third because of the blunderous signing of Casey Blake. However, we could move Casey to the outfield (which I don't like) or we could have Casey be our roving right handed bat off the bench (a role he could fill now). Other options next year include Adrian Beltre, Placido Polanco, Freddy Sanchez, Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, Jermaine Dye, Miguel Tejada, and Jack Wilson... wait who? Scratch Jack Wilson. I wouldn't have him on my team if he was free.

Concentrating on the 09 team, what other options will help us both this year and the 2010 team.

1. Getting rid of Juan Pierre. That should be the first choice on anyone's team.

2. Signing a good, young, injury free, starting pitcher.
a. Oliver Perez- not the best option, but the best option was taken by the Yankees.
b. Ben Sheets- still not a good option as he has Jason Schmidt written all over him
c. rely on the youth. I like this option best.

3. Get that POWER bat!
a. Manny- Seems unlikely as the Yankees have now drawn interest in him. Though it is more unlikely that they sign him.
b. Wait till next year. I like this option best.

4. Find undervalued players that go unnoticed on other teams and make smart trades for them.

5. Use the rule 5 draft to find talented players that can't fit on most teams rosters. Good thing Colletti passed up his drafting spot by taking no one!

I just can't see us competing for a playoff spot next year. Not this team. Not with Juan Pierre AND Chin Lung Hu starting. The pitching staff should be pretty good no matter who we sign. We certainly need someone who can eat up innings. And we still really need a power bat.

Update: Apparently Furcal hasn't agreed to the terms of the Braves contract. His agent will be calling the Dodgers today to try and match or exceed it. No doubt Colletti will. And I for one think it is worth it. 3 years at 33 million with an option 4th year at the same rate. If he signs it just means Pierre has no place on the team.

Turn your back!

2008-12-15T15:36:00.002-09:00

Ken Gurnick answeres some questions from Dodger fans at main site. This one touched me specifically, as I am more of an unrealistic fan. It's easy to see where other teams have made improvements in their respective front offices (Mariners, Red Sox, A's, Brewers, Rays) by adding a division that uses statistical analysis instead of/ or with typical scouting. The Mariners specifically will no longer have travelling scouts but use a video analysis system.

Do you think this will be the year when Dodger fans turn their backs on the team?-- Mike M., Riverside, Calif.

The Dodgers were in baseball's final four two months ago. The Angels weren't. The Yankees weren't. If fans are turning their backs on the Dodgers because they aren't spending more money than the Yankees, consider that the Dodgers spent wildly in the past on the winter's top free agent (Kevin Brown) and heaped tons of money to keep their own players from leaving. It hasn't worked.

The question wasn't about spending money. The question was about management overall and the fans turning their backs on the stupid Dodger management. I will always be a Dodger fan, but if they sign any more high priced free agents over the age of 35 it will be easy for me to never watch another game knowing that they can't win that way.

Also, you can't possibly make the case that the Dodgers were a better team than the Yankees or Angels because we made it further in the playoffs. We made it further because we faced the rest of the "nancy" NL West and a Cubs team that fell asleep at the wheel sometime in late July when clinched the NL Central.

The Dodgers are trying a different approach, dependent on the continued improvement of their younger players. A lot of fans never will be happy with that approach. They only want the biggest names that come with the biggest salaries, and they will be satisfied with nothing less.
None of last year's highest-paid free agents signed with the Phillies or the Rays, who met in the World Series. If spending the most always meant winning the World Series, the Yankees would have won rings over the last eight seasons. They didn't.

I for one will be happy if we take the "go young" approach! I've always felt that we need players from both free agency and our farm system, but the only way we could develop a winning additude was to play players that we drafted. Signing Jones, Schmidt and Pierre didn't work. 2 out of the 3 we knew it wouldn't work. And Jones was questionable at best. We certainly need to fill our holes with free agency. But to try and develop excess through it is ridiculous. We'd have 5 full time outfielders with Manny. 2 of which would be on the bench making a combined 30 million dollars. I'm not in favor of that. But at the same we would still have a hole in the outfield if we didn't sign Manny.

Logan White has done his job in the draft. Taking great players and loading up our system with uber-talent. Ned has traded some of that away in mostly questionable deals. Whatever system he has for the Dodgers (I don't think he has one) isn't working and we do need a change before he ruins what little hope we do have.

The McCourts are running a business, not only a team. There always will be fans resenting that, especially when the Yankees seem to have no limit to their resources. But it's reality.

I totally understand that baseball is a business. There is a huge amount of money being passed around and it can't go overlooked. The reality is, when passing around such huge amounts of moeny, why would they do it so unwisely? Why would they invest 125 million in the ideas of a mad man named Ned Colletti? Oh the humanity!

It will be easy for me to turn my back on the Dodgers when they raise ticket prices, parking prices, and concession prices, and they can't even field a winning team. It will be easy to change my colors to a blue more aqua (Seattle).

UGH...

2008-12-15T14:31:00.003-09:00

So, Rafael Furcal is set to sign a contract tomorrow no matter what. Apparently he has offers from the A's, Dodgers, and Royals. He has come out and said specifically that he does not want to play for anyone but the Dodgers. This is likely his way of jacking the price up for the Royals and the A's. And it has worked so far. And with this I could only suppose that he will eventually sign with the A's.

The Dodgers on the other hand have apparently offered him an incentive laden deal. Probably a 2 year deal with 2 option years. I think I'd rather have Furcal at short than Pierre in left. That's what it comes down to. If we sign Furcal you can close the door on Pierre as an everyday player. However, if Furcal isn't signed the likelyhood of Torre starting Pierre everyday in left is a disturbing thought. But he'd do it to have his "leadoff hitter".

I'd rather just sign Furcal, Dunn, and (name your starting pitcher here) and settle with trading Pierre and Jones for nothing and a lot of cash. But that's unlikely.

My main goal would be, "How can I keep Joe from starting Pierre at all costs?"

Unfortunately, Colletti is the guy who thinks Pierre should be starting... so... go figure. We also paid 45 some odd million for 6 games of Jason Schmidt knowing he was injured... and 36 million for a 172 hitter and anything over 2 million for Pierre is ludacris. And now we have shafted Saito!

And now there are rumors of Omar Vizquel. Of course. He is an ex Giant. Where all of this comes from I have no idea. But Colletti is retarded. So get ready for the 6 year deal for Manny and the 3 year deal for Pettitte. I wouldn't be surprised... nor happy. But that would be typical of the worst GM in baseball. I also wouldn't be surprised if he overpaid for another starter. I think he will eventually sign Pettitte and another starter at 2-3 years similar to the Brett Tomko deal a few years back.

Back to the point. I think Furcal will sign with the A's. Somewhere in the 4year X 44 million range. If they can add Giambi to DH they would all of a sudden be able to contend with the Angels.

My crystal ball says the Dodgers overpay for Orlando Cabrera, Andy Pettitte and Pedro Martinez all getting multi-year deals and blocking 17 prospects that are better than them allready which Ned trades for Alfonso Soriano. Then my crystal ball laughed at me for being a Dodger fan...

Why I like the A.J. Burnett signing.

2008-12-12T14:34:00.003-09:00

Because I hate the Yankees.

Inevitably Burnett will take the spot that Pavano left as overpaid, injury riddled, starting pitcher in New York.

Undenaible evidence shows that Burnett is a bomb waiting to explode.

http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/Baseball/Pitching/ProfessionalPitcherAnalyses/AJBurnett.html

The concept of "scapular loading" comes with certain rules that must be kept to not just keep from serious injury but also help in control.

O'Leary explain the process pretty well, but to take it step further, I've always felt that limiting your extra movements will always help your pitching ability. The reason that the Inverted "W" is so bad is because of the stress the elbow and shoulder go through when transitioning from the "M" (inverted "W") to the fast movements when the front foot lands of actually throwing a ball.

It reminds me of Eric Davis and his high step/low hands combination that created a ton of power and created a huge loop in his swing while delaying his timing.

Timing is one of the finer keys to pitching. Having a detailed loop in your delivery not only creates added stress to your elbow and shoulder, but it also creates a timing hitch in your delivery. If your hitch is off just a little bit, your all over the place and can't locate. For 16.5 million, the Yankees could have done better.

Personally I would have targeted Teixiera first. Then a lower tier pitcher, maybe Ben Sheets for 3 years 42 million'ish. Lowe at 16 million over 4 years simply isn't worth it. He's good, reliable and old. He'll produce well, but he wont be worth 16 million. He's worth what you give him... but he's not worth what Borass wants. Maybe 12-14 million. maybe....

Overall, if Burnett can be healthy over 3 years of the course of the 5 years of the contract its a push if he pitches like he can when he is healthy. I only like the signing because it means that the Yankees are out 82.5 million bucks and have a potentially huge hole in the rotation.

Addition

2008-12-11T15:43:00.002-09:00

Add Trevor Hoffman to the list of available relief men that wont cost as much but might still be able to produce effectively. I'm not sure I'd give him the ball in the 9th inning, but he would be nice contrast to have on a night when any of our burners (Bills, MacDonald, Kershaw, Kuroda... anyone really is a "burner" compared to Hoffman) are pitching.

On my list

2008-12-11T12:03:00.003-09:00

I have a list of guys that, if I were GM, I'd make contact with and try to sign to relatively cheap deals.

First of all let me say that I am shying away from Manny Ramirez and thinking that just sticking with Jones is center might work out as he is playing for a contract again... maybe he can hit .222 with 25 homers. If he does that... well... he still sucks, but there is an outside chance that he steps up this season and we see the real Andruw Jones. I think, as a fan, were going to have to count on him to bat cleanup for us.

Naturally Rafael Furcal is #1 on the Dodgers list. We need a true leadoff hitter and sparkplug in the field. He has all kinds of range and a cannon arm that will cover most of what Blake can't at third. Sign him to 2 years with roll over incentives for a 3rd and 4th year if that's what he wants. I don't have any problem paying the man as long as he is healthy. After Furcal there really is no one else. He holds all the cards and as far as I'm concerned I really think he will sign with us eventually.

Then we need to start looking at bullpenn help and 1 or 2 spots in the rotation.

Ben Sheets stock seems to be dropping and if the Yankees sign Lowe, his stock as a 3rd or 4th starter may fall even further. I can't see him taking a deal less than 12- 14 million range, but if he dropps that low it's worth knocking on the door.

Randy Johnson. His asking price to play in Arizona was 8 million. If the Dodgers offer 10 he should accept and I think I would be happy with that. He is approaching 300 wins and 5000 K's. He would be the pitching version of Manny for about 12-15 home games next year.

Pedro Martinez. I'd only consider it if he were to accept 1. a very small contract (2-4 million) and 2. the possibility of having to pitch out of the bullpenn. More of it relies on his production and the production of James McDonald and Scott Elbert as I have both of them on the team in some role, long relief, set-up, or starting. Martinez might even be an acceptable closer.

I think I'd target both RJ and Pedro and let Sheets go because of his injury history. He has "Jason Schmidt" written all over him.

Keithe Foulke at one time was a legit closer. If he would accept a minor league deal he'd be worth signing.

Tom Gordon is old and resembles what type of player Ned Likes to target. Injury problems and old: lets give him a 3 year deal worth 21 million.

Julian Tavarez. A few poor seasons with the sox doesn't mean he can't come back to the NL and be a successfull mop-up man on a minor league deal. I certainly wouldn't sign all 3 of these relievers, but getting one of them would be a sign typical of Colletti.

Playing for a contract.

2008-12-09T12:20:00.002-09:00

You hear the talk about free agents having a big year the same year their contracts end so they can sign a big contract the following year. Last year Manny Ramirez really increased his stock after he was traded to the Dodgers by hitting just about everything out of the park and also setting records in the post season! Before the trade he was looking at 20 million from the Sox or declining his option and probably getting less than that (17 million'ish) over the next 3 years.

As a Dodger he proved he wasn't done just yet and is likely worth more than the 17 million GM's were willing to give him. His agent, Scott Borass, is now demanding a 6 year deal. He certainly isn't worth it, but that's negotiating. He'll likely get at least 4 years with an option on the 5th year averaging at least 20 million a year. After the Andruw Jones project blew up in our face I can't see Colletti going anywhere near Manny and settling with Pierre in left and as our lead off hitter. (Hang on... I have to clean my desk after vomiting all over the place.)

The same concept comes into play with GM's. Next year Ned Colletti will be playing for a contract. If he can put together a team that will go to the playoffs in 2009, he may see himself getting a 3 year contract extension from Frank McCourt despite the signings of Juan Pierre, Jason Schmidt, Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent's extension, Andruw Jones, and now Casey Blake.

We can determine if Ned is signing players for the benefit of the team or for his own benefit this year by evaluating the signings he makes.

Casey Blake- While Blake will help the Dodgers next year simply because we have no one else who could possibly play third (Dewitt) or second (Loretta) then we absolutely need him and all 3 years of this contract. Casey might help us reach the postseason this year, but the next year or the following he most certainly wont. His declining defense and age make him a canidate for a contract that nears something that the twins offered him. 2 years for 14 million. I'd be willing to spend 10-12 million on him just for next year so long as we dont have him in 2010-11 clogging up the bench with Pierre. This type of contract has Brett Tomko written all over it... with one exception. It's for 3 years!

Hypothetically if Ned extends his options on Manny, Furcal, Sabathia, or anyone else to 4+ years he is essentially playing for 2009 and a contract in 2010.

Who then would Ned target if he is looking forward to what the Dodgers might be able to do with the future. According to management the Dodgers are looking to going head first with the youth movement. What short term contract are available that would help the Dodgers for 2009 and free up the possibility of letting the youth have the opportunity to move their way up to a starting spot in the future?

My suggestion is Adam Dunn. 1 year @ 15 million is worth more than what Manny could give us over the next 5 or years.

I'd also like to see players like Delwyn Young, Chin Lung Hu, Ivan DeJesus, and John McDonald get a decent shot at a full time job. We were short at 3rd base and second base and signing someone like Mark Loretta was essential at least for the bench.

Signing someone like Casey Blake means that Ned Colletti is playing for a contract. If that is true then we should look forward to rumors of signing Manny, Furcal, Sabathia, and others to huge contracts.

What to do?

2008-12-01T12:19:00.002-09:00

As the options of free agents become more available via arbitration, we can see an inclusion in some potential players joining the Dodgers.

The infield.

Plan A: Sign Ray Durham to play second base. A high OBP mixed with league average production otherwise is worth at least 5 million based on his age. Sign Edgar Rentaria to play SS and have DeWitt at 3B. The lineup is weak, the defense is weaker. Grade F

Plan B: Trade for Mike Lowell to play third and eat most of the salary so we don't have to give up any big time prospects. Although unlikely, we could have Hu at short and Dewitt at second. The lineup is still weak, but the defense is much better. Grade C

Plan C: Don't do anything. Play Dewitt at third, Dejesus at SS and Hu at second. Poor offense, good defense. Grade C. I think this is the best option.

Whatever prospects we have to give up for Lowell is just too much. Unless we are making room by trading Pierre to only see Ned sign Ibanez would just make no sense. Next year should be a rebuilding year for the Dodgers. By that I mean that we shouldn't sign anyone and offer arbitration to everyone. Collect the draft picks and get the heck outta dodge.

If we win the division, all the better. But when our competitors in the NL West have no money to spend and they are all rebuilding we might as well save our bullets to use them when we need them.

Offensive player ratings 2008

2008-11-08T01:59:00.004-09:00

C - Russell Martin - 3rd behind Joe Mauer and Brian McCann.

1B - James Loney - 18th. Though big names take up the top 10 James was the epitome of league average last year. Certainly we expected more. If we don't get more next year it's time to start looking for a platoon partner. (Nomar?)

2B - Jeff Kant - inc/ 19th - Lets hope he retires. Actually I'd like to see him in a Giants uniform so Kuroda can throw at his head next year.

3B - Casey Blake - 8th - Decent year for the statue. I hope Ned doesn't make the mistake of signing him and Manny to muli year deals!

Blake Dewitt - 21st - He really should be playing second next year. He's just not enough of a force with the bat to get it done at third. I trust his sure hands to take over second easily.

SS - Rafael Furcal - 13th - despite playing only about 1/6th of the season he still managed to rack up enough numbers to be the 13th best SS in all of baseball last year. That's what we got for 13 million. Thanks Ned.

LF - Manny! - #1 - The best left fielder in the game last year. Probably the best pure hitter of our generation.

CF - Matt Kemp - 9th - Not a bad season for Kemp. He was asked to bat in every position in the lineup except cleanup. Thank goodness we had Jeff freaking Kant!

RF - Andre the Giant killer - The best season for any Dodger by far! Had been given a full season of play and not been screwed around by a bumbling manager for the second year in a row he likely could have even done better.

There really is no reason to bring up other players that in no way contributed positively. But I will anyway.

Andruw Jones - F - What else can be said? He had the worst season of anyone's career.

Juan Pierre - D - While he did steal 40 bases he was caught 12 times for a 76% success rate. Which is not very good.

Nomar - C - He had an average year. I guess I really should give him a lower grade for being injured most of the year, but I suppose that was to be expected.

The rest...

 #Delwyn Young          Chin-Lung Hu            *Mark Sweeney             Luis Maza                Andy LaRoche             Danny Ardoin             Pablo Ozuna              Gary Bennett             Jason Repko             #Terry Tiffee             A.J. Ellis

With exception to any of the developing kids(Hu, Repko, Young), the rest of you schlubs can

go test the free agent waters for sharks... or cramps because I hope you drown.

Picking Neds mind.

2008-10-31T20:16:00.002-08:00

I have bad feelings about Ned and this upcoming offesason.

After picking through the free agent list and looking at their numbers I have a feeling Ned will make offers to Ray Durham, Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Rafael Furcal, Nomar, and Tom Gordon. Tom Gordon's son is in the organization. I can see him in a set up/ closer position. And it doesn't look like we will be able to keep Saito. I'd still offer him 2-3 million though just to see if he accepts. He is still under team control, so it's not like if we don't sign him he can just go to another team. Other intriguing names include: Livan Hernandez, Greg Maddux, Orlando Hernandez, Paul Byrd, and Kerry Wood. Maybe Maddux signs as a bench coach/player. I'd love that. Torre needs all the help he can get.

If he takes the Orlando Hudson/ CC/ Ben Sheets/ Casey Blake/ or any other long term deal (3+ years) then I will be pretty upset. There aren't many players out there that are worth more than 3 years at a time. Jason Schmidt included. He was only worth one year at the rate we paid him. To give him 3 was a sin at that rate was a sin.

My question is... how much do we really need Manny Ramirez? How much of a risk will he be when he hits 40? I think a 3 year deal for 70 million acceptable. And if we can get CC for 4 x 110 I'd go for it. It would be overpaying a little but it is a trend of Neds to overpay to keep the years down.

It seems that whatever hole we try to fill with Blake Dewitt, Ned will have to fill the other via free agency or trade. Options include Casey Blake, Orlando Hudson, Ray Durham, and who else? I've already suggested my best trade idea. Andruw Jones for Eric Chavez. OR Andruw Jones for Luis Castillo. I like either one. I still think Nomar has a place on the team as a supersub/ right hand bat/ platoon option.

Anyway, happy halloween.

2009 REVISITED...

2008-10-20T22:11:00.003-08:00

To sum up what rumors have passed through the Dodger media, there is a possibilty that the Dodgers look to add Randy Johnson next year. There is also the possibility that we hang onto Maddux as well, but in a different role. Bench Coach. What a perfect role for him. I think I would like to see Maddux as our Field Manager one day soon.

So that brings me to my other preferable speculation. That we should trade Andruw Jones (and cash) to the Oakland Athletics for Eric Chavez. One bad contract with one bad year (Jones) and another bad contract with multiple years. We would have to move Pierre first beause this team would seriously be hampered financially if we had multiple Juan Pierre's, Jason Schmidt's, and Andruw Jones's.

Pierre has already stated that he wants out if he can't have a starting gig. I don't blame him completely. While he is a horrible player he isn't any better than league average and that must be worth something... OK I blame him. He's worthless. The Reds will likely kick the tires around considering Dusty Baker's infatuation with speed and non-contributing stats like stolen bases. Maybe we can work a decent reliever out of them. We might need someone reliable out of the penn next year to go with Broxton, Kuo, Wade, Beimel, and Troncoso. In all likelyhood we may have seen the last of Takashi Saito. He really spoiled us with his domination and he WILL be missed. Lets hope he makes a speedy recovery and has one more dominant season in him.

To add what has already been mentioned that leaves us with:

Furcal SS
Dewitt 2B
Ethier RF
Manny LF
Loney 1B
Kemp CF
Chavez/Nomar 3B
Martin C
P

Bills
Kershaw
Kuroda
Johnson
McDonald/Elbert

Broxton
Beimel
Wade
Kuo
Troncoso

C
Hu
Repko
Young
Abreu?

There are other options off the bench that may be more reliable. I can't think of any. How big was Willy Aybar for the Rays this year? That's what I mean. Colletti needs to find a few dimonds in the rough. Dallas Macphereson? Mike Hessman? Scott McClain? There's about 50 minor league guys that will make an impact next year for a different team than they were on this year. We got one of those guys this year and it was all luck. Chan Ho Park. Who was terrible when we needed him most.

UPDATE: Jones plans on asking the Dodgers front office for a trade! YEAH!

2009 PLAN REVEALED!

2008-08-07T13:00:00.003-08:00

The Dodgers currently have somewhere in the area of 50 million dollars coming off the books next year. That's a fair heap o cash! But in order to free just a little more up I have come up with a plan to make the Dodgers appear unstoppable! Here goes...

Free Agents:

Manny. If he wants 100 million over 4 years I say give it to him! With his antics the Dodgers will laugh all the way to the bank with sellouts every game!

CC- A proven #1 already quoted as saying he wants to be a Dodger next year. A home town lefty that will fill and plug and overflow the hole left by Lowe. 7 x 20 with incentives!

Furcal- After an injury riddled season where he will miss over 100 games he should be able to come relatively cheaply. 10 -12 million over 4 yrs.

Thats 55ish million on 3 players... you might be thinking the math doesn't add up. It doesn't just yet. But I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

Trades!

One major trade to cover the second base hole left by Kent. Though Kent is kinda the hole there this year... anyway... here goes.

Trade Penny (9 million), Pierre (10 million), Hu/ Abreu, and 2 pitching prospects (Elbert, prospect B) for Brian Roberts! I think we'd have to eat at least 5 million over the next 3 years of Pierre's contract (15 million total) and then Roberts gets 8 million next year. We save about 2 million and fill a huge hole while getting rid of Slappy....

But you say...."wait, that's only 2 million bucks. We still need to sign bench players!"

Since Jason Schmidt is unlikely to pitch at all this year the MLB player/team insurance program kicks in the cash for Schmidt salary this year. Thats 12 million bucks baby!

With that money we have enough to extend Casey Blake and grab a 5th starter to go behind CC, Bills, Kuroda, CK, and Schmidt unless he is done for next year too. There are always options in the minors as well. One man by the name of James McDonald comes to mind! The bullpenn needs no help, just maybe a little more depth than Brian Falkenborg, especially if Saito come back healthy.

In retrospect the Dodgers could have as much as 70 million to play around with next year. Its a ton of money and what they do with it will determine the fate of all mankind forever... seriously!

Furcal
Roberts
Kemp
Manny
Loney
Martin
Ethier
Blake

Looks dang strong!

Jones is GAY!

2008-07-25T22:45:00.003-08:00

He totally looks like the fat gay guy! His hitting problems come from his tendency to stay up late and wacth gay porn while eating cheetos.

FAG!

I Quit!

2008-06-09T11:44:00.002-08:00

After finding out about Neds latest deal to improve the team, I have to resign my post as president of the Juan Pierre haters club and loyal Dodgers fanatic. I'll be a Dodgers fan but, the blog, incessant cheering, and late nights watching rebroadcasts of games are over. At least until Ned Colletti is out of there.

There are promising reports coming out of New York that suggest Brian Cashman would want to follow Joe Torre out to LA. Not that Cashman is the end all be all to being a successfull GM, but something new would be nice. I thought Ned had the sense to admit when he was wrong and try and make significant improvements to the team.

Getting rid of Juan Pierre should have been the first order of business this offseason. A move made recently by the Royals when they ridded themselves of Angel Berroa. The irony of that move is that it was made with the Dodgers. Now we have the Royals worst player, the Braves worst player, the Giants worst player... when are the Yankees and Red Sox going to contribute. We do have Nomar and Proctor...

Anyway, I'll try and make to the All-Star break when Jones and Furcal should be coming back. At which time Sweeney, Berroa, and Pierre should hopefully be gone along with Colletti!

So long!

My Prediction for tonights game...

2008-06-04T10:51:00.001-08:00

Kershaw strikes out the side in the first.

Pierre singles to left.

Kemp hits one out of the stadium and eyes the pitcher while rounding the bases. The pitcher attacks him and just before he gets there Kemp one punches him and the pitcher lies on the ground twitching. The Kemp finishes rounding the bases pumping up the crowd along the way taunting the rest of the rockies players to try anything!

The Rockies forfeit the game out of fear of one man. A man on a mission!

Matt Kemp!

Bison!!!!

Can Penny turn on a dime?

2008-06-03T16:01:00.003-08:00

I had to use the pun.

Penny continues to struggle pitching, in his last 5 starts he has given up 10, 5, 5, 4, and 6 runs.

Over 27 innings in 5 games he has a 9.43 ERA with 13 walks and 17 strike outs... not good... actually it's horrible... like Odalis Perez bad.

Even stranger he has given up 4 homes runs. The same guy that gave up 4 home runs all of the first half of last year has all of a sudden given up 4 in 5 games.

My analysis is that Penny is just getting unlucky as teams have a 390 BABIP against him in this time period. His groundball rate is up and his line drive and fly ball rates are down. Having Furcal at SS will really help and if we are lucky Jeff Cant can help us by giving more offense! In the meantime... lets all enjoy watching our SS production go 0-30 again, go eat a Dodger Dog.

Fortunately for Penny he is facing the Rockies. The one team that has struggled MORE than the Dodgers. It'll be just our luck that they start a hot streak against us that lasts until late September when they have clinched the division...

Probably not.

More numbers crunching.

2008-06-02T10:14:00.003-08:00

Since Furcal has been out (May 6) the Dodgers enemic offense has gone from hitting 283 BA, 361 OBP, 416 SLG to 243 BA, 298 OBP, 339SLG.

WHO IS AT FAULT?

It's not Russell Martin (353, 421, 435) who has 9 RBI's and 9 Runs scored.

It's not Blake Dewitt (296, 345, 469) who has 15 RBI's and 10 runs scored.

Maybe not completely Matt Kemps fault (284, 370, 333!) with 6 runs, 6RBIs and 21 K's!

And not completely Andre Ethier's fault (304, 337, 405) with 5 RBI's, 7 runs, and 13 K's.

And maybe not completely James Loney's fault (281, 319, 438) with 6 RBI's, 12 Runs, and 17 K's.

But it could verrry easily be Juan Pierre's fault (250, 314, 271) with 13 runs, 6 RBI's and 6 K's.

But most of all it IS Jeff Kent's fault (186, 230, 271) 5 runs, 6 RBI, 9 k's. As he does his best impression of Andruw Jones. It doesn't help that Torre keeps on throwing him out there to bat in the cleanup spot, but at 40 years old when do we start looking for his replacement?

I have been pretty high on Brian Roberts for some time and think that we could trade our utility infielder posing as a left fielder (Juan Pierre) for him along with 17 prospects and 20 million dollars.

Fill the open outfield spot inhouse with someone... anyone really, and just pay Jeff Kent to go away.

The starting piching hasn't been as bad as the offense but not good enough to sustain a one run lead. 4.39 ERA, .333 OBP, 376 SLG since May 6.

Ken Rosenthal suggested trading Penny. Though as good as Penny is he has a BABIP (batting average of balls in play) of 391 over his last 4 starts. A stat like that can't stay like that especially for a guy like Penny and it's just a matter of time either the defense gets better or Penny says he is injured. Not to mention Penny has a team option with the Dodgers for 9 million dollars next year, which is really cheap for a guy who got 3rd in the Cy Young vote last year.

Furcal is an impact bat and we need to keep him! But we need someone else to take this team to the next level. Juan Pierre makes this team weak as he is our weakest player. I wouldn't be opposed to getting Adam Dunn. But matching him up with Jones in the OF is insane. Hopefully Jones comes back healthy and hits like a man on a mission! Because no one else is and we need him. Otherwise I'd say we should just let him go and call it a lost cause and sign on of the many free agent corner outfield impact bats that will be on the market next year.

Kemp and Loney need to start pulling more of their weight though. They need to be the guys that take this team to the next level. Just the same way Bills and Kershaw will take the pitching staff to the next level.

Crunching Number... Hidden offense.

2008-05-30T12:07:00.004-08:00

I thought I would try and figure out just why the Dodgers are as bad as their record shows. The obvious answer is that they aren't scoring enough runs. And that's basically the conclusion I came to.

If you consider that Offense makes up about 50% of your teams overall contribution, pitching 35% and defense 15%, the Dodgers are missing a good 40% in there somewhere.

The offense has been abysmal.
Last in HR.
Last in 2B.
OPS+ 91
14th of 16 NL teams in SLG.
9th in BB
8th in hits.
11th in runs scored
and the one bright spot, 15th in K's.

Considering what components the offense is made up of and the inconsistencies at which they play the game (Kent, Furcal, Jones, Pierre, and Nomar). This group makes 58 million dollars to ride the bench, max out at a 70 OPS+ with putrid defense, or are on the DL. For that amount of money we could have had the Marlins and Pirates!

The pitching has been well. Not great, though without looking at the stats I can tell you that the starters have been somewhat inconsistent and the bullpen has held the team together. An ERA+ of 111 is nice.
8th in K's
5th in ERA
3.3 BB/game (average)
and first in HR per game (.07!)

What has been letting the pitching down is the defense.
21 Throwing Errors! Only the Marlins are worse.
but only 13 Fielding errors (second best in NL)
only a CS% of 21%. Martin needs rest wether he wants it or not.
A RZR (revised zone rating- plays made into outs that were made in the players "zone") of .819% where the league average is .832
OOZ (plays made out of the players "zone") of 155 vs. league avg of 144. not bad.
Infield RZR .766 vs. league avg of .784
infield ooz 82 vs league avg of 68
outfield RZR of .900 vs league avg .904
outfield OOZ 73 vs league avg 75.

The outfield has been league average at best. I think with Jones instead of Pierre we are a much better team (defensively). Kemp has been a nice replacement.

The infield has some nice points and seriously bad ones too. While they can make plays out of their typical playing area, they seem to have "throwing" issues with normal everyday plays in their playing area. Sounds like a James Loney/ Rafael Furcal issue.

The "core" players make up roughly 65% of the teams production to the game. The pitchers make up the rest. It's fair to say with Esteban Loaiza (7 million), Jason Schmidt (15 million), and any of the high priced, overvalued vaterans the team could very easily be the NL west equivalent of the Pirates. Ned Colletti is lucky to Logan White continue to stock the team full of talented players with high ceilings. Too bad Ned keeps blocking them with overpriced washed up veterans.

My hopes, as are with the rest of you, are that Jones finds his stroke when he comes back, that Furcal comes back at all, that Penny decides to pitch like an ace, that Pierre gets booted out the door, that we get a fielding and throwing coach, and that some of these young kids start hitting the way we know they can.

Too Strong!

2008-05-27T12:33:00.002-08:00

Making trades and moves that would make the Dodgers a better team would just make them too good. That's why Ned Colletti signed Juan Pierre (9 million), Jason Schmidt (16 million), Nomar Garciaparra (9 million), and Andruw Jones (18 million). I wonder if Ned is getting a commission on these or something?

Why wouldn't Colletti save some of that money to waste on a young starter just getting ready to blossom out of Cleveland. CC Sabatthia. He kinda reminds me of the left handed version of Brad Penny.

When is Colletti's job on the line? It appears that meddling owner Frank McCourt is too proud to admit to making a mistake. It's time to go internal for our next general manager. Kim Ng or Logan White. Or the both of them together. Logan obviously has the beat on all young up and comers while Kim has made strides in free agent signing. Colletti has to go. We all know that. It's time for a new era in Dodger Baseball. The young era.

K- Zone

2008-05-27T10:39:00.004-08:00

Instant replay has been discussed around various baseball communities as MLB is using instant replay in the minor leagues to see how well it works. I think this is a step forward in the right direction. Without naming the numerous blown calls in the playoffs that have let teams escape a loss and go on to win, how many more calls are blown in the regular season that go unnoticed?

In time baseball umpiring should be completely monitored by computers. The human eye is just too... human. Particularly when it comes to the strike zone. When I considered the origin of the game, and the creators thereof, how would they have wanted the game "umpired"? If you gave them the option to have a digital representation of the strike zone for pitchers to pitch to (granted were talking about the late 1800's here) would they have used that opposed to the current human umpires used today? No doubt, I think, they would have used the "K-Zone" that FOX and ESPN use now. It's just my opinion.

Obviously the game would change. Managers would have to manage a game instead of running out to the umpire to plead his hopeless case and get run from the game. The game would also change for the better. At the moment we do not know about umpires secret lives. We do not know how many Tim Donaghee's there are out there. AND based on what I have seen, not just as a Dodger fan, but also wathcing Yankee, Red Sox, Mariners, and tons of NL and AL West games, it's pretty easy to see where umpires make bad or "favorable" calls to one team or the other. The strike zone expands for one team and not the other?

Don't get me started on check swings! As I understand the rule, it is considered a swing if the bat crosses the ball. Meaning you should literally have to pull your bat back when the ball approaches. How many players hold their bat level over the plate as the ball crosses it. And bunt attempts? Many left handed players are running out of the box while trying to decide if they are going to bunt or not and never actually bring the bat back.

It has become a frustrating game to watch.

Yeaaaaaaah

2008-05-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

Kershaw up.

Brazoban down.

Loaiza GONE!!!

The Untouchables~

2008-05-24T00:33:00.003-08:00

The 2008 Dodgers isn't built to win. It's time to either have a major overhaul to try and salvage the season and hope for a hot streak with some new players or build for next year. But it's obvious we need to get better and make some trades. Instead of determining who to trade, lets establish who absolutely can not be moved at all.

And in no particular order:

Chad Billingsly- The closest thing we have to an ace.

Clayton Kershaw- The second closest thing we to an ace.

Matt Kemp- Perrenial all-star/ Golg Glove winner/ Silver Slugger/ MVP.

Russell Martin- What more can be said. THE BEST CATCHER IN THE GAME!

Johnathen Broxton- His youth, contract, and durability make him unreplaceable.

Takashi Saito- Even with his age he is one of the best in the game. Great K rates and even better control with great late movement make him unreplaceable.

Rafael Furcal- Lets just hope Ned does the smart thing and locks him up.

There are a few second tier players that deserve credit where credit is due. It's unlikely that we can unload them and get something back of equal or greater value.

Guys like:

James Loney. It's time we see that Silver Slugger bat come alive. AND he needs to be more consistent with the glove!!! It's possible to get someone better than Loney. He is a good player, has a nice swing, but he just needs to, dare i say, be... more... consistent. (shades of Joe Morgan)

Andre Ethier. Really he should be on the list above, but his OPS+ is ok~ (113), but arm and defense are great. Because of that it would be really hard to replace him with someone better. But it is possible.

Blake Dewitt. It would take a really sweet offer to find someone more likeable and talented as Dewitt. He shows that he has the talent to take over the starting job at third. Lets hope his young head can stay in it.

Joe Beimel. How can you not like the guy. He has a role and he fits perfectly in it. He is above average at what he does and clearly for the Dodgers no one else can do what he does. But there are a few available Left Hand relievers that are better.

Hong Chi Kuo. His strike out rate is as advertised. He has great stuff. But I don't want him to be around when he needs another Tommy John surgery. Eventually they are going to run out of tendons in his body to stick in that elbow.

Hiroki Kuroda. A nice pitcher. He is a nice 3rd or 4th starter. If he continues to go 7 on a mimimal pitch count he is worth having around. Still a question mark as this is his first season in the bigs.

As far as I'm concerned, everyone else is fair game.

Brad Penny
Derek Lowe
Chan Ho Park
Esteban Loaiza
Mark Sweeney
Gary Bennett
Nomar
Pierre
Jones
Schmidt
Proctor

Naturally I have a plan!

Pierre and Hu for Maddux and a prospect.

edit: Tony Abreu, Andy Laroche, Derek Lowe Jaime Pedroza, Justin Orenduff, and Greg Miller for CC Sabatthia.

Juan Pierre, Josh Bell, John Lindsey, Chin Lung Hu, and Scott Elbert for Brian Roberts.

Garrett White, James Adkins, Yhency Brazoban, Andruw Jones and Ramon Troncoso for Bobby Abreu. (It may take more for this one.)

Jones and Lowe for Bobby Abreu.

Greg Miller, Eric Stults, Andy Laroche, Tony Abreu, and John Meloan for Brian Roberts.

Cut Kent, Sweeney, Bennett, and hope Schmidt just retires already.

So much for sanity.

2008-05-23T23:40:00.002-08:00

It's official.

Andruw Jones is the worst player in baseball.

Who would have thought that 18 million a year would have bitten back so badly? Ned Colletti must be turning in his grave.

It's time that he have the "arthroscopic surgery" and get put on the 60 day DL. I say "arthroscopic surgery" because I don't think he is actually injured. He is just trying to blame something other than his obesity for his MLB worst performance.

Even if he is somewhat injured, the cause would be his obesity. The tatoo on his back, which is the Japanese symbol for a Bull, has now stretched into a cow.

He has taken the crown from Juan Pierre as the most worthless player in baseball. It's too bad that the Dodgers are paying 27 million dollars for the two worst outfielders in all of baseball. The only way the saeson can be salvaged is if both of them left.

That might be the only way that Ned Colletti can save his job. Not only is he going to have to cut costs, but he is going to have to trim this dead weight. 350 pounds of useless Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones is a lot to ask, but he has to do it.

If he can find a good second baseman (Brian Roberts) and decent right fielder (Bobby Abreu or Brian Giles) he would definitely set us up to win. In the process, cut Kent, trade Lowe, call up Kershaw, and leave Nomar on the bench then we might actually have a blind shot at the WS. I wouldn't mind dropping a few prospects in the process to make it happen.

Furcal
Roberts
Abreu
Kemp
Loney
Martin
Ethier
Dewitt
P

Penny
Kershaw
Bills
Kuroda
Maddux

Saito
BrOXton
Beimel
Progdor
Wade
Kuo
Park

Nomar
Repko
Young
C
MIF

Sanity restored.... kinda

2008-05-20T10:26:00.003-08:00

It is apparent that Andruw Jones may need arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilidge in his right knee. What a blessing for the Dodgers! Now we don't have to put up with a leadoff hitter that makes more outs than anyone else followed up with a .170 hitter. If there were any way to get rid of Pierre, I would look into it. Maybe we can match him up with Laroche to get a decent second baseman?

Anyway, more on Jones. When he comes back, lets hope he doesn't come back as a 250 pound whale. And who is to say that this injury wasn't the direct cause of him being overweight? I'd love to see him come back after the all-star break trim and fit and deliver that game changing presence form a few years ago. Who am I kidding?... Lets just cut the guy now. Maybe we can sign Bobby Abreu next year to bat second behind Furcal?

I feel like I'm taking CRAZY PILLS!!!!

2008-05-14T14:46:00.003-08:00

I thought we got rid of Grady Little this past offseason for the obvious reasons.

1. Batting Juan Pierre in the two hole nearly every day. If he's going to be in the lineup there is no reason to have him batting 2nd and not first or eigth. But, like expressed many times here before, Juan Pierre just shouldn't be playing period. Especially at the expence of quality at bats from Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. Conclusion: NO JUAN PIERRE!

2. The Lineup. Last years linup was about as consistent as something that really isn't consistent. (I fail to find something obviously inconsistent other than the Dodgers lineup... do the work yourself) Other than Furcaal batting leadoff and Kemp batting third, who else has a spot in the lineup where they have batted there more than just a handfull of games? Kent in the cleanup spot? And he should likely be batting 5th or 6th.
Conclusion:
Furcal (Injured)
Ethier
Kemp
Loney
Kent
Dewitt
Martin
Jones
p

alt:
Martin
Ethier
Kemp
Loney
Kent
Dewitt
Jones
SS
P

3. Torre and Grady are notoriously bad at using the pitching staff wisely. No surprise there.

4. When do we consider bringing up the young talent? Andy Laroche? Hello? The kid is on fire in AAA and no doubt Dewitt should be starting at third but maybe there is a situation where Laroche can play 2nd or short while Kent and Furcal "rest". This is a continuous problem that the Dodgers have had for a few years now. Calling up the youth to give them an actual shot at showing what they can prove. This is a Ned Colletti snafu.

5. Where is Clayton Kershaw? (see #4)

6. I hate Bill Plaschke!

In Conclusion Joe Torre has proven so far that he is going to shuffle the lineup until he feels confortable with what they are doing. I'd rather the team and players start to feel confortable with what is going on , but Joe... as long as you are confortable, that's all that matters. Tonights lineup:
Pierre, LF
Jones, CF
Kemp, RF
Kent, 2B
Martin, C
Loney, 1B
DeWitt, 3B
Hu, SS
Lowe

great!

not...

Tubbo

2008-04-13T00:32:00.002-08:00

Dodgers' Jones isn't feeling weight of the world
Dodgers' $36.2-million free-agent signee is homer-less and, with a .105 average, isn't hitting even half his weight. But he doesn't appear worried, or even bothered.
April 13 2008

Talked to the Dodgers' Andruw Jones before Saturday night's game, and he whiffed again.

I wanted to know if the tubbo thought he could maybe hit his weight at some point this season. Calling the guy "tubbo" may not be best for him. But he is fat...

He said he's not fat and doing just fine, apparently envisioning himself as some sort of supermodel and weighing in with a .105 batting average. It is disturbing that Jones is in such denial. His weight is slowing him down a lot. He can't catch up to a 90 MPH fasatball and he can't stop swinging at offspeed junk outside the plate.

He said he's 240 pounds, and I said no way, and so he said, "Do you want me to go weigh myself?"

I said, "Yes, I do," and he said the scale was off limits to the media because as you know the Dodgers get their jollies making most areas around here off limits to people.

"Let's go," I said while leading him to the scale, and he checked in at 248 pounds. "My shoes are on," he said, sounding more like my wife than the Dodgers' center fielder. FAT!

I suggested a diet contest benefiting Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA since I would like to drop a ton before a special event in June, but Jones wanted no part of it.

"You're hilarious," he said. "I don't have to prove really nothing." You don't have to prove nothing, but sure as better hell earn that 18 million tubbo.

I guess that's what happens when a team agrees to pay you $36.2 million over two years.

General Manager Ned Colletti said Jones' best weight is somewhere between 235 and 240. Colletti also said Jason Schmidt would help the Dodgers. Fat chance! Schmidt is done.

Manager Joe Torre, a former tubbo who dropped 20 pounds as a player and then went on to hit .325 and .363, said he could talk until blue in the face, but if Jones isn't buying it, it's not going to make a difference.

The Dodgers, though, have paid Torre to make a difference.

Jones said it doesn't matter what Torre thinks, and I guess that's what happens when a team agrees to pay you $36.2 million over two years. I'm beginning to not like Andruw Jones.

"That's their problem whatever they think; I have no problem with my weight," the tubbo said.

Maybe it's a problem and maybe it's not, I said, but when you come to a team, struggle and look like a player who just didn't care enough to be in shape when the season begins, it upsets fans.

"That's part of life," he said. "Good players get booed. Look at A-Rod." Oh Arod, the guy who hit 54 home runs last year and batted 314 with 156 RBI's and makes 12 million more than you. Dude when you get anywhere near that close you can put yourself up there, but the closest you've ever been is the left leg of AROD when he is peeing on you.

The tubbo should ever look that good in a uniform.

The fans in Dodger Stadium, catching the tubbo's act for only the fourth time at home in a Dodgers uniform, booed Jones on Friday night after another wretched performance.

They even booed him in pregame introductions Saturday night, and with runners on first and third in the first, he struck out -- the fans letting him have it again. Rightfully so!

In the third, with runners on first and second, he walked, a Dodgers highlight so far this season.

"I don't have to tell fans nothing," he said, and he certainly knows how to sell those Andruw Jones jerseys. "If they want to support me, fine; if they don't want to support me, that's their choice. I can't worry about what other people say. They're not God. And neither are you! You better start taking notice not about what we say but about what you do. Have you noticed that it's what you do that determines what we say to you?

"You get paid for what you do."

Well then, you seem to be terribly overpaid at the current time, I said.

Jones hit .222 last season, and the Dodgers gave him $36.2 million. What would they have paid him had he hit his weight?

"It's not the first time in my life I've struggled," said Jones, who struck out 51 times in the Braves' first 41 games last season.

I told him I had to admit he was improving, striking out 11 times in the first 10 games -- at that pace striking out only 45 times in 41 games.

"I'm not going to hit 27 home runs in April," he said.

"How about one?" I suggested.

Jones had four hits and the same slugging percentage as Juan Pierre before Saturday's game, then went 0 for 3 and struck out again. The extra weight and the smirk that always seems plastered across his face, while charming, make it seem at times that he just doesn't care.

"Do I have to be sad all the time?" he said. "My mom is still living, my dad is still living, and my mom thinks I'm fine and that's what matters.

"If I didn't care then why have I played more games than any other active player since 1997?" he said, maybe for the first time showing a little life. "We'll see when the season is over in September or August."

I had no idea the Dodgers' season might be over as early as August, but the way he's swinging the bat, it makes sense.

TORRE IS new on the job, so trying to help, I told him he's got it all wrong so far, playing Pierre when Matt Kemp should be in the lineup every game.

"We need to get Andruw started," he began, explaining why he has Jones in the every-day lineup.

If that's the case, until Jones hits one out of the park, that's another reason to put Kemp's power into the lineup.

"I can't concern myself with power right now," he said. "We need to generate some offense, and have to start small."

So that's why he's going with the shrimp over Kemp.

THE AUTOGRAPH situation is better at Dodger Stadium, but not much. The team is still not allowing anyone without a ticket into the field-level box seats, lining up all those who want an autograph in aisle 27 -- the line extending all the way to the concourse.

Field box-seat holders had complained about the autograph crunch, although at 6:12 p.m., with batting practice all but over for the Padres, only 28 people were sitting in the field boxes behind home plate, first and third bases. At 5:30, with the Dodgers taking batting practice, there were nine rich people in their seats.

Torre stopped to sign some autographs for the aisle 27 line, but when the Dodgers completed warmups, every player, including Schmidt who isn't doing much these days, walked by the youngsters as if they didn't notice a single one of them standing there.

Later, the Dodgers brought out Andy LaRoche, who is not eligible to play because of a broken right thumb, and had him sign for everyone who wanted an autograph -- with his right hand.

The Dentist, the team's new PR guy, was there from start to finish and was working to make everything work for the fans, but without the active players' cooperation, he better hope they never add LaRoche to the roster.

Good article TJ. Way to ask the tough questions and give us Dodgers fans the news.

Blaschke! ( the noice I make when I sneeze and puke at the same time)

2008-04-04T10:45:00.005-08:00

In an effort that would make me vomit cheese doodles out my nose, Plaschke is at it again and he produced this.

Bill Plaschke:
Past becomes a present to Dodgers fans
A surprise pregame ceremony that had past players assume their old positions at Dodger Stadium becomes long moments of 'Look at that.' The McCourts hit a home run with this one.
April 1 2008

No. 50 started with No. 4. He likely means Dodgers stadium here. 50 years ago the Dodgers moved to LA and in their 4th year they finally moved into their new home at Chaves Ravine: Dodger Stadium. But the way he writes it can mean a number of things, especially if you continue reading. Is he talking about Brent Cookson (#50) or Bell Brand (#4). After racking my brain to try and understand the logic I had read half the article and missed just about everything that actually happened...

He appeared from behind a blue outfield wall, walked carefully across the deep green grass, startled huge cheers from a stunned Dodger Stadium crowd. Here we go...

Then, halfway to second base, he stopped, and so did our hearts.

Duke Snider had returned to center field. At the moment I'd take him over Pierre.

Fifty years after they arrived, the Dodgers are returning to Los Angeles. But they never left. How can they be returning if they never left?

From the dark Coliseum to the sunny Chavez Ravine, the milestone is being celebrated as a cornerstone, the Dodgers reminding us who they are, reminding us who we are. Because out of the blue I had to be given an identity card from a Dodgers security gaurd last week to remember who I was.

At Monday's opening day, Los Angeles was 56,000 Dodgers lovers with peanuts in their throats and Cracker Jack in their memories. Was someone choking? Peanuts in the throat sounds kinda dangerous. You gotta be old to remember cracker jack sold at the park!

During a surprising pregame ceremony, the field breathed Dodgers history, exhaling the sweetness of old stars, the smoothness of recent heroes, the shout that was Fernando, the whisper that was Sandy. Shouting, Whispering, again... It seems like all dodger fans do is whisper.

Who ever thought the McCourts could be so McCool? McThis Mctype Mcof Mcwriting Mcis Mcbeyond Mcold.

"This was way beyond cool," said former pitcher Jerry Reuss, an honoree. "You take cool, then go a step beyond, then a step beyond. This was something for which they have not yet invented a word." Plaschke invented it: McCool.

This was a 15-minute production that began with Snider walking alone to center field wearing a Brooklyn jersey. It continued with 40 other mostly uniformed former Dodgers stars appearing one by one from different parts of the outfield fence to man their old positions.

From left field marched Don Newcombe, the Dodgers' last remaining living link to Jackie Robinson. What about Scullie?

From right field ran Steve Sax, the Dodgers' last world champion second baseman.

From left field walked Maury Wills, the Dodgers' inventor of the stolen base. Because before Wills no one had ever stolen a base before.

From right field sprinted Steve Finley, whose division-title-clinching grand slam is still rattling around out there somewhere. This is cheap crap. Why would Finley be there? He played all of 3 months with us!

On and on the parade went, each name more surprising than the next, each figure accompanied only by the solemn announcement of his name and the tinkling of music from a "Field of Dreams" medley.

"With just Duke walking out in the beginning, fans weren't sure what was happening," Reuss said. "Then when they saw players coming from everywhere, when they realized what it was, it became surreal." See, the quotes are good. It's just the fictional writing that is crap.

Here was Bill Russell, making his first appearance on this field since his managerial firing a decade ago, running out to huge overdue applause deserved by one who has played more Los Angeles Dodgers games than anyone.

There was Eric Karros, the classy link from the past to the present, running out to the sort of applause that was often missing in those years. The applause for Karros lasted 24 minutes, because that's how long it took him to run to first.

They cheered Jimmy Campanis, and you wondered if they weren't also cheering the memory of his father. cheese doodles.

They cheered Don Miles, and he played in only eight games for those 1958 Dodgers -- only eight games in his career -- and you wondered how they knew? They didn't. they likely didn't even recognize him.

"I can just imagine what it was like in the stands," Reuss said. "There were grandfathers probably telling their sons about players they remember, and then those sons turning to their sons and talking about different players."

It was long moments of "Look at that!" and "Is that him?" and "Wow." Old typical Plaschke... putting words in out mouths. No doubt there were fans ooing and aahhing, why can't he put in a few quotes from the fans then?

Then, finally, it was the closing stretch of royalty, beginning with Fernando Valenzuela stepping from the dugout, one of the only two players who did not wear a uniform, of course not, he would never wear anything old, right? This doesn't make sense. 1) Fernando likely has to call the game on the radio for the spanish version and he didn't want to change clothes multiple times today. Not that the other players didn't, but to say that Fernando didn't wear it because it was "old" is just a bad speculation.

His cheers rattled the building, echoing into the entrance of another man from the left-field bullpen, Tom Lasorda, and you knew he was wearing a uniform because he never takes it off. I gotta admit, Tommy looks funny in a Uni. Kinda like an Oompa Loompa.

By now, everyone was standing, folks hooting and stomping and struggling to keep their composure. Stomping? Yeah, I usually stomp when I feel like I'm about to cry.

"And here came Sandy," said Manager Joe Torre.

Indeed, here came the cleanup pitcher (Cleanup pitcher? dominant, overpowering, masterful would have all been good words there, but cleanup pitcher... not. ), the final memory, Sandy Koufax, the only other player not wearing a uniform, as if anyone cared.

Koufax has been on this field maybe once in the last 25 years, he's so private, yet he came today because the owners asked, and he understood.

Once he stepped to the mound, the cheers still reaching to the center field hills, the current Dodgers players filed out of the dugout to show their own special appreciation by greeting their ancestors.

"It gave me goose bumps," Matt Kemp said.

The original idea was for Koufax to then end the ceremony by throwing out the first pitch, but, typically Sandy, he didn't want to do it alone, so he was joined by Carl Erskine and Newcombe.

Nobody was swinging, of course, but on that pitch, a home run was hit by the McCourts, who have proved to be worthy caretakers of the Dodgers culture. I'm surprised Plaschke can get anything done when he has Frank McCourts penis in his mouth.

They have rediscovered what the Fox Corp. had lost. They are rebuilding the glorious memories that years of chaotic behavior had eroded. It was because of McCourt that we didn't sign Vlad right?

When it comes to Dodgers history, the owners get it, they really get it. first lets fire everyone! Then hire a bunch or ex gnats.

The only Dodgers legend who was available but missing from Monday's ceremony was the ever-humble Vin Scully, who preferred to watch it from his broadcast booth, speaking only to announce that ceremonial first pitch.

Appropriately, the mere sound of his voice over the loudspeaker may have elicited the biggest cheers of the day.

"This was about connecting the last 50 years to the next 50 years," Jamie McCourt said. "The players today, their time has never passed, it will never pass. For Dodgers fans, three hours of a game is a lifetime of memories, and we want to celebrate that."

The creative force behind the pregame ceremony was the Dodgers' new chief marketing officer, an eternally bubbly guy named Charles Steinberg who has other surprises planned.

"Today, we were hoping to inaugurate a season in which families can bond with each other over their love of the Dodgers," he said.

Mission accomplished. While Plaschke is a horrible writer and even worse in his delivery, the idea to present something to the fans like this is a great gesture. My family and I have a special bond that no matter what is going on we can always talk dodger baseball.

Even the opposing San Francisco Giants did their part Monday, showing up as perhaps the worst team to play here in 50 years, barely making a peep in a 5-0 loss to the Dodgers and Brad Penny. Good one! Finally Bill has said something right.

But this wasn't about the game. This was about the culture. Lets play the season and think about the culture... and win every game from here on out.

This was about a nameplate over a locker next to Penny's in the Dodgers clubhouse.

"Tom Lasorda," it reads.

Penny hangs out with Lasorda so much, he insisted the former manager have his own locker, and so he does.

He wants him close. We want all those living memories close, don't we?

On this most splendid of Dodgers birthdays, they never felt closer. Stomp, stomp, stomp...

April Fools!!!

2008-04-01T12:10:00.003-08:00

You all know what I think of Plaschke. Just read my complaints about him below. If you can't see the obvious flaws in his thinking, writing style, or just have a hard time understanding anything about the man at all go to http://www.firejoemorgan.com/ to see what they think. Unfortunately this is no April Fools joke.

L.A. Times' Bill Plaschke top columnist, once again
Story posted on April 1, 2008

Bill Plaschke
Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times won the sports column writing category for the third time in four years, highlighting final judging results announced Tuesday in the 2007 Associated Press Sports Editors contest.

Plaschke has won the top columnist category back to back years and has placed in the top 10 eight of the past nine years. In the over-250,000 circulation division, Plaschke finished ahead of The Oregonian's John Canzano, followed by the Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy, the Kansas City Star's Jason Whitlock and the Washington Post's Mike Wise. In fact, Canzano was runner-up to Plaschke last year also.

"I'm feeling equally honored and humbled," Plaschke said. "I'm also feeling very lucky...

because every day I read columnists...

in all circulation categories who are good enough to win this award...

Sportswriters are at the forefront of the fight to keep newspapers relevant...

and I'm just proud to be one of them."

First-place columnists in other divisions were: Ted Miller of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (100,000-250,000), Peter Kerasotis of Florida Today (40,000-100,000) and Mark Edwards of the Decatur (Ala.) Daily (40,000 and under).

No newspaper had two first-place winners in any category. But Bill Reiter of the Kansas City Star, in the over 250,000 category, finished first in game story, third as part of a team in projects and third as part of a team in explanatory.

How it is possible that a man that likely would be a better Romantic fiction novelist gets voted as the best sports writer comulmnist is beyond me. We can literally look back at every column Plaschke has written and, after throwing up, see all the places he was dead wrong. I'm not talking about a misprint or a spelled word wrong, he specifically wrote the opposite of either what was going to happen, what should happen, or what he thought could be happening. Even after specific events his writing style targets such a minority (women) that even if they were reading the sports section, any woman would likely view such descriptions as homo-poetic.

Oh! what a night.

2008-03-30T10:23:00.002-08:00

It's debateable wether or not the Dodgers will ever trade Juan Pierre. Well, more than just debateable, it's downright lunacy if they don't! We all know his spring training numbers. Before I get to this article in which Ken Gurnick is doing his best Bill Plaschke imitation, let me tell you about last night.

It's break-up season in Alaska. That doesn't mean I'm now on the market. Break-up is a time when the snow and ice starts to melt around town and makes for horrific traffic. Pot holes that were once covered in ice are now lakes of water ready to pounce on the unsuspecting motorist. Naturally my alternator went out on me and instead of taking it in to get fixed I decided to do it myself. Let me first say that I didn't get it done but not because I couldn't.

We have had a pretty consistent leaky faucet in our tub. It escaladed yesterday and I had to fix it. By the time I was done it was the 6th inning. So I thought I would tune into justin.tv or sopcast to watch the end of the game. Lets just say that it's good to know that Gamecast has updated their player. (Im watching the 86 playoff game between the yanks and sox on espn classic. I guess I never realized how bad those old uni's for the sox were. I have better looking pajamas!) Anyway, it was a dissappointing day/ night.

LOS ANGELES -- Juan Pierre signed to be the Dodgers' everyday center fielder two winters ago. So did Nomar Garciapaara, Jason Schmidt, and Luis Gonzales. What's your point? When Andruw Jones was signed this past winter, Pierre learned that he was no longer the center fielder. The rest of LA including the current players on the Dodgers shouted for joy!
On Sunday, Pierre might learn he's no longer an everyday player, too. On Sunday? Are you telling me that he had no idea that his job may be on the line after the last 3 seasons? That he didn't know that playing badly might qualify him to be the highest paid batboy ever?!?!

"If they're going by the spring, I'll probably be sitting on the bench," said Pierre, who despite hitting .169 said he hasn't been pressing. That's comforting. Despite putting up putrid numbers that Michael Jordan could have beat, Pierre decided to take it easy. And if were only looking at the spring numbers something is wrong with the Dodgers staff. His numbers for the last 3 years have been discussed here adnauseum, and to think that all he has to do is get on base to be a starter... he doesn't even have to play good defense, or hit for power, or drive in runs, or be a good clubhouse guy.... all he has to do is get on base!!! Thankyou Juan Pierre for not being able to do anything good at all.

"It is what it is. It's a tough situation for me. I can understand being dissappointed in your play... But it really sounds like he is dissappointed that he isn't starting. Which makes no sense at all. I go out and play hard every day. But you're no good. You do realise that playing hard has nothing to do with talent right? But when you sign a five-year contract and you think you'll be in one spot and they go out and sign somebody to play your position and I certainly didn't have a horrible year. Only the worst year ever!!! I come in and everything's changed, well, it's the cards I've been dealt." Good on you to fold that crappy hand Pierre. Way to make lemonade, not out of lemons, but out of LEFT FIELD! When the Dodgers signed Jones, they backed you and said you would be the starting LF'er. No questions asked. You played your way out of a starting job.

Manager Joe Torre all spring has put off deciding who will flank Jones in the outfield among Pierre and young outfielders Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp. Ethier leads the club in home runs with six and is batting .365. Kemp had three hits Saturday night and is batting .307. Both have stronger throwing arms than Pierre. That's not just it. Throwing arms? That was an obvious difference between Pierre and Kemp/ Ethier. Some of the even more obvious differences is SLG, RBI, RS, OBP... just pick a stat other than steals and Kemp and Ethier blow Pierre away. Does that not spell "bench" to you?!?!

"It's a tough situation they created and put me in," batting 176 is the Dodgers fault? Look at what Bill Plaschke has started. When my brother and I were kids growing up and we'd get in trouble, what was literally the first response out of our mouths? "It's not my fault!" said Pierre. "It's one thing to move to left field, but now I don't even know if I'm going to play. And I'm at a point in my career, my game isn't diminishing. I don't know if you have checked out your stats over the last 3 years but... that's the definition of dimishing. I'm not 38 or 39 (he's 30). I'm not an old man."

Pierre, who hit .293 last year with 64 stolen bases, spent most of this Spring batting leadoff. But in recent games, Torre has dropped him to the bottom of the batting order, while Ethier and Kemp have remained in the middle of the batting order and Rafael Furcal has led off. Looks like Torre is doing what any normal, thoughtful, smart, baseball understanding, person would do.

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Ken, maybe you should start the approval thing.

BILL!!!

2008-03-28T11:25:00.002-08:00

So...

Bill Plaschke hasn't written a Dodger article here for a while, so I thought I would shoot him an email why...

"We haven't heard much from you lately concerning the Dodgers. What's going on? I need some material here so I can rip on you some more. How's that Juan Pierre support club treating you?

He wrote me back!!!

"hang in there, dusto...(dusto??)...I will be a bulls-eye again next week when season opens.."

I responded with...

"Excellent!!!

There are a few guys on our blog (PSD) that support Juan Pierre. We thought you might be participating at our blog. If you didn't recognize my handle (Dusto) then you likely aren't "blogging" at PSD. Though it is possible that you are just incognito... "

I wouldn't doubt that when Andre gets the starting job he'll praise the team and difficult decision to "play the better player" without saying much about Pierre. Then he'll emotionally praise Ethier and give a huge background about the kid clawing his way through the minor leagues just to get blocked last year by Gonzo and now this year by Pierre. No doubt he'd include Andre's good looks and "heart throb" appearance and get all sappy about the kids future.

Episode: 2

2008-03-25T13:39:00.003-08:00

This second episode features a new challenge to the players.

A challenge many of them have likely never encountered.

A feat so difficult, the probability that some will not only go home, but go home with a right buttox inflamation is a likely possibility.

We are live on location here just outside the Right Field Pavilion at Dodger Stadium. Frank McCourt has generously donated a 35 million dollar, 6 million gallon water tank to hold today competitions. In those tanks are man eating sharks!

The players are separated into teams based on age. The over 30 group is one team. The under 30; the other group.

Our feature challenge this week is the mini-basketball/ home run derby/ swim for your life through shark infested water that has been lit on fire/ challenge.

The first portion of the challenge is difficult enough in its own right. Players have to be able to hit a mini-basketball a minimum of 100 feet while standing in a canoe.

After successfully hitting the minimum required distance of 100 feet the challenger must then swim the 360 feet circling the bases in shark infested water that has been lit on fire while dodging fastballs thrown by Clayton Kershaw!

If the player survives, he does it all over again until he is out or dead.

For every run scored, your team earns the right to vote another player "Out of the Ravine". The player with the most runs will earn a miniature of the miniature silver slugger award and IMMUNITY.

Batting leadoff for the "Old Cranky Fart Knockers", which is the over 30 group, is Juan Pierre.

Juan's small size and even smaller build should help him here to keep good balance while swinging in the canoe. It should also dispell the sharks seeing as he has no muscle or fat on his body at all. Infact I have a feeling he's missing bones in some areas. That should help him here. Bones really get in the way when you're trying to hit mini-basketballs for homeruns and swim through shark infested waters that have been lit on fire.

The real trick will be dodging those fastball by Clayton Kershaw. The young man has pinpoint accuracy and throws harder than anyone else in the game.

The great lack of power that will likely save Juan's life from the sharks will also keep him from being able to hit past the designated 100 feet.

Pitching in today's matchup is Larry Bowa.

As Juan takes his stance in the canoe, Larry tosses a mini- ball in his direction. Juan gently slaps the ball the other way and Larry immediately gets on his case.

"Hit the ball Frenchy!!! Like you mean it!!!"

As the second pitch arrives Juan swings with all his might...

and misses.

And falls in the water....

He quickly climbs back in the canoe, but not before Kershaw beans him in the groin.

Juan quickly shakes it off as that is the one bone he is missing.

Larry against shouts instruction to Juan. "Hey Frenchy! Try hitting it this time!!!", and giggles to himself.

Juan grips the bat.

Grinds his teeth.

And spits out a little bit of sea weed, and it lands on his jersey.

While he is cleaning it off, the pitch is thrown and he jumps up hit it.

The canoe rocks left...

Then right...

The momentum carries him to the ball in full force.

He connects and whails like a school girl.

Juan Dives into the water, dodging a heater from Kershaw.

Players from both teams stand in amazement as they watch the tiny Pierre avoid sharks, fastballs, and fire.

When he makes it to first base, he surfaces for air. But he must continue. No points are awarded for singles.

Down he goes, swiming past the sharks, under the fire, dodging fastballs by Kershaw.

He stops at second but just for a moment to catch his breath.

He pushes on to third, unnoticed by the sharks.

Instead of stopping at third he turns the corner and heads for home.

He stops midway between third and home to catch his breath, but only for a moment as a Clayton Kershaw fastball is aimed right at his head.

The ball connects and he panicks.

(the following events are quite graphic, viewer discression is advised)

In slow motion, mouths drop.

Russel Martin grins.

Brad Penny looks in shock.

Raffy Furcal throws both hands up in the air and laughs evily.

Andruw Jones drops all 8 hot dogs he's eating.

Juan is knocked unconscious, floating at the top of the water. His body is beginning to burn from the fire.

The sharks have heard his yelp.

They surround his lifeless body like... sharks... in a 6 million gallon pool, ready to pounce.

Juan awakes just before the first shark arrives. He begins to flail and dives under the water to put out the fire on his chest. His wounds are minor. But his fear is obvious.

He encounters the first shark with a quick slap on the nose. The shark looks perplexed and attacks.

Pierre swims for his life. To his incredible luck he is heading directly at home plate.

His paddling is quick and short, but it is no match for the shark. As he touches home plate to score a run, he is gobbled up and torn to pieces by 7 different sharks.

Furcal makes a call on his cell phone.

On the other end is Frank McCourt.

Raffy- "Hey, Frank. I have good news and bad news. Well, the bad news is that we lost today's challenge."

Frank- "Well, what's the good news?"

Raffy- "There's alot. You know that shark tank that you paid 35 million for. Well, it just paid for itself. And you no longer have to worry about trading Pierre. Turns out he was "shark bait". HAHA!!"

When the competition concluded it was apparent that the challenge may have been a bit "overboard".

The teams gather together and decide that losing Pierre was a necessary thing for the betterment of the team as a whole.

Jeff Kent secretly kisses the photo of Frenchy he keeps in his hat and says, "I'll miss you... my love"... he sniffles... snorts... and collapses.

Reality check.

2008-03-22T11:48:00.003-08:00

The Dodgers currently have two players on the team that are out of options. Delwyn Young and Hong Chi Kuo. Both players have a pretty high upside and really low downside.

Delwyn obviously made an impression last year when he had something like 7 consecutive hits (I'm not exactly sure on that), but he reminds me of the impact someone with his talent can have with a bat. On the other hand, is his glove. And instead of using a glove he has a cast iron skillet glued ot his palm. The poor guy would likely have a shot a starting job if it wasn't for his turrubl defense. As a switch hitter that can absolutely rake, he isn't helping himself by batting 156 this spring. However, the club is basically forced to keep him on the roster so they don't have to face losing him to a needing team and getting nothing in return.

Kuo is a top notched talent and up until he started pitching for the Dodgers was lighting in a bottle. He was still pretty impressive but 4 elbow surgeries does not exactly spell consistent or healthy or reliable or sesquipedalian. Anyhow, it looks like he too will be on the opening day roster as a long reliever/ spot starter. A role I think better suited for Clayton Kershaw.

Could it be possible that we move both of these guys and maybe Greg Miller to the Cubs for Mark Derosa after they finally pick up Brian Roberts? Maybe a 3 way deal could be made where we give up the already mentioned players to the Orioles, the Cubs give up a few to the Orioles get Roberts.

I like Derosa because he is versitile enough to play any of the infield spots or the corner outfield spots. Maybe if we are really lucky we can throw Pierre in to ( I was going to say "sweeten", but... ) sour the pot. The cubs aren't exactly sold on Pie, but who would be sold on Pierre? That and he has 4 more years on his contract. There just is no room for a guy like him on basically any team.

Pierre isn't exactly helping himself either, by talking about playing time and his role with the team. Not to mention his turrubl play. Lets hope we can dump him and bronze the poo we get in return. Speaking of which...

Poor guy...

2008-03-21T09:03:00.002-08:00

Joey Gathright has this to say:

“I’m trying to pattern my game after Juan Pierre. I’m trying to become the best bunter I can be and really use that as a weapon. I think I’m getting better at it, but I know I can still improve quite a bit.”

If anyone thinks to pattern their game after Juan Pierre, think again. Ole' Slappy Mcpopup is literally one of the worst players in baseball history. Aside from his atrocious defense, lack of batting patience, and literally no power whatsoever, his speed all of a sudden becomes a useless entity. Joey Gathright, get ready for AAA.

Dodgers "Survivor"

2008-03-18T14:52:00.007-08:00

I was curious how the team felt about the current competition between Andre Ethier and Juan Pierre. It's obvious, even to the lay fan, that Andre is the superior player. He might not show up 6 hours early every day to work on his bunting, but at least he shows up every day. Something Pierre hasn't done for 3 years, figuratively speaking.

I wonder what Kent's opinion is now that Andre is outplaying Pierre, and has outplayed Pierre. I would like it if one of those Dodger's beat reporters would actually do some reporting for us. In the mean time we can play a little make-believe and say what we think it might be like in the Dodgers clubhouse.

Welcome to "Dodgers Survivor"!!! This weeks episode features our first "Vote and Trade" of the season. In an astonishing turn of events Juan has basically fell on his face, slapping grounders around the infield like he was Larry Bowa hitting "incessant earth scorchers" testing the infield defense. Too bad for Juan he is playing against major leaguers. However, against the girls soft ball team from his home town in Louisiana, the girls nicely curtsie and watch the ball dribble past their gloves. No wonder he got a 45 million dollar contract.

Andre Ethier on the other hand has really stepped up his game. Leading the team in basically all offensive categories and leading the league in HR, RBI's, anf OF assists. Jason Repko is also tied for the lead in RBI's with Ethier, both having 13. If Pierre gets traded today, not only will Ethier now be our starting left fielder, but Repko will take over as the 4th outfielder. A role he can manage better than Pierre and at a much cheaper rate. I'll take you to the live action, where the team is debating in their underwear, around a camp fire, surrounding home plate at Dodger Stadium.

Furcal complains about Pierre's lack of ability to 1) cover the outfield. 2) Bat behind him in the lineup.

"Man, the guy just don't know what he doin' out there! He's lost out there, picking his nose when the ball is hit to him. I usually have to play deep just to cover half the outfield for him. And don't even get me started on how many times I got thrown out at second because he tried to bunt his way on. You'all know my vote!"

Others chime in with similar comments. Kemp and Ethier both agree that if their playing time suffers because they have to give time to a scrub like Pierre... they would seriously question the direction the Dodgers front office wants the team to go.

Mark Sweeney decides to start the chant, "trade Pierre, for some hair! Trade Pierre, for some hair!"... the chant gains momentum and others pick up their bats. Around the fire they dance, swinging their bats over their heads and pounding them on the ground. Pierre wisely runs away, and in the dark tripps down the steps of the dugout.

As the chanting slows and laughter calms, Loney directs everyone to make a line infront of the voting booth.

A hidden camera captures the tabulation.

Matt Kemp writes in big bold letters "TRADE PIERRE" and slams it against the camera.

Russell Martin also writes that the Dodgers should trade Pierre and even makes suggestions as to which teams need a leadoff CF. "We can trade Pierre to the Reds, Cubs, Mets, A's, and even the Giants just for gitts and shiggles."

Nomar, Ethier, Penny, Saito, Loney, Jones, Furcal, and others give their vote. All in favor of trading Pierre.

Except for one...

One person decides not to vote for Pierre.

In a moment of weakness, and proabably because he didn't know the camera was there, Jeff Kent sheds a tear for Pierre as he is the only guy to vote for Slappy to stay.

Kent man's up, takes a biker magazine out of the back of his underwear, and collects himself before exiting the voting booth.

Loney opens the lock box and begins tallying the votes. He calls out "trade slappy! That's one for Pierre to be traded", and tallies it in the sand. The second is the same, as is the third and fourth.

The fifth vote however has a little bit of sticky man cream on it. Loney reads it, "I love Slappy Pierre. We need him exclamation mark, exclamation mark, exclamation mark, x o x o?". The team hushed in astonishment look one to another to find the imposter. Kent sniffles to himself quietly, and is caught by Raffy.

No one says a thing...

Moments later, Pierre is traded to the Oakland Athletics for the infamous PTBNL.

Thankyou Bluemouse for the inspiration.

Isn't it sad...

2008-03-18T12:09:00.002-08:00

...that a blogger for the Pirates gets the Dodgers situation better than the Dodgers front office? http://www.bucsdugout.com/story/2008/3/18/14753/6976 Not that I am endorcing a Bucs Blogger to be working in out Front Office. Just maybe some food for thought?

3. Los Angeles Dodgers: They've got young talent out the wazoo, much of it major-league ready. Unfortunately, neither their GM (Ned Coletti) nor their manager (Joe Torre) inspire much confidence that the Dodgers will handle that young talent well. They're still talking about playing Juan Pierre in an outfield corner instead of Andre Ethier, which tells you most of what you need to know. And rather than just giving the third base job to prospect Andy LaRoche, the Dodgers were showing interest in veteran third baseman Brandon Inge. (LaRoche subsequently injured his thumb and will be out for another month or so.) If the Dodgers do win the division, it may look something like this: they lose 18 games in April, with Pierre and Nomar Garciaparra hitting .100 and Esteban Loaiza posting a 7.50 ERA. The Dodgers replace those guys with Ethier, LaRoche and Clayton Kershaw, and end up winning 90 games on the backs of those guys, Russell Martin, Matt Kemp, Chad Billingsley and James Loney. The Dodgers' talent is better than good enough to win the division, but I have no faith that the team's management will allow that to happen.

Too bad he doesn't realize that Laroche was probably going to start the season at third until the injury. Then they started talking about finding a replacement. I really hope the only reason they talked to the Tigers about getting Inge was to dump Pierre off on them.

Goofy Crazy Goofy...

2008-03-17T12:56:00.002-08:00

So, I was up pretty late last night studying for a test today and in my delirium I came up with a trade idea. Hence the "goofy, crazy, goofy".

Send Abreu, Stults, Meloan, and Miller over to the Orioles for Brian Roberts. I wouldn't make this trade if we couldn't get rid of Slappy first.

So... send Slappy, Laroche, Elbert, Young, Kuo, Brazoban, and Orenduff over to the A's for Blanton and Chavez. We would totally empty our farm system, but whats the use in having it if you don't use it. These guy are never going to get to play because Ned is just going to keep on signing crappy vets.

Anyway, the lineup looks nice.

Furcal
Roberts
Loney
Kemp
Ethier
Jones
Kent
Martin

Next year Roberts moves over back to second and maybe Chavez is healthy again at 3rd.

The bench has

Chavez
Nomar
Repko
Bennett
Hu

ROTO looks nice too

Penny
Blanton
Bills
Kuroda
Lowe

and in the penn

Saito
BrOXton
Beimel
Proctor
Meyers
Loaiza
Schmidt

Who knows?... I don't. I'm just fishing for a way to get rid of Pierre.

Join NOW!!!

2008-03-16T22:20:00.001-08:00

This is the official site of the "He-man Pierre haters club".

Join up now by adding your name to the list in "comments".

Martin's first spring shot undecisive!

2008-03-14T13:28:00.002-08:00

This comes from MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. The headline really tells the story! I guess when he hit the ball it stopped mid air to think if it was going to go over the wall. By the time it had made a decision the speedy Martin had already rounded the bases. Or this is what they meant...

Offense evaded the Dodgers until the fourth inning, when Russell Martin launched a two-run homer that needed mere seconds to leave Holman Stadium. The next three hitters all reached base, in a sequence highlighted by Jason Repko's RBI single. Repko later added another RBI single in the eighth.

No doubt he meant to say something like, "Martin hits a "no doubter"". We'll just leave it at that.

How dumb are you? David Chalk decides to tell us.

2008-03-14T08:59:00.003-08:00

This was posted at Bugs and Cranks. They are trying to prove that the "Rays" are better than the Dodgers. We'll just do the typical thing and show them just how dumb they are.

Argument #1: Hulkower, You Ignorant Slut.

The Dodgers haven’t done anything remotely interesting since October 15, 1988. Why else would Alyssa Milano have a puppy she got out of a pet store’s “bargain bin” named Gibson? Using Melissa Milano as your argument here really shows your ability, or lack their of, to do some investigating. Coming from a team that has never had a winning season, this is great! They have never won more than 70 games in a season. I'm going to laugh to myself for a moment...

Bringing over Joe Torre might be remotely interesting. It sets up a wonderful situation where if the Dodgers do well, the Yankees look bad; and if the Dodgers do poorly, the Yankees look bad. So this is just a knock on the Yankees huh? You aren't remotely smart.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have had a rash of spring injuries that rivals the Mets. Really? Who? Tony Abreu (a AAA middle infielder), Jason Schmidt (the 6th man in our rotation), and who else? Where's your remote now.

Infielder Tony Abreu is suffering from “right buttocks tightness.” Sons Of Steve Garvey suggests that Abreu’s Ass might be a Symbol of the ‘08 Dodgers season.

No one, but no one, is suggesting that the 2008 season of our beloved Devil Rays will be symbolized by a buttocks injury. Is that because if you actually win 72 games this year it will be a success? No, the symbol for our 2008 Devil Rays will be ass-kicking. Or a 72 win season. Just ask Joe Girardi, the Yankees interim manager with one less testicle than John Kruk. Burn.

Yet, the Dodgers are being talked about by many as the favorite in the NL West. Not because they are good, but because the NL West is filled with boring teams with little or no talent, and the Dodgers appear to be slightly less boring and slightly less untalented. And this is based on what remotely evidence. If they have enough healthy bodies, the Dodgers may win the NL West. They’d obviously have a much better chance if they do what I hinted at two weeks ago and what Home Run Derby’s Nick The Greek boldly predicts — sign Barry Bonds, The Greatest Player On Planet Earth (The G-POPE). Why don't you guys just hire Joe Girardi? Why don't you become the feeder team to the Yankees? Why don't you sign a player from your biggest rival and remotely who is also the biggest horses arce this side of the universe? Why not?

Our Devil Rays are obviously in a tougher division. Obviously. If our Devil Rays were in the NL West, they would run away with the division by at least 20 games. They wouldn't be able to hit themselves out of a little league park.

The Dodgers are a team full of old, fading quasi-stars and never-quite-weres. Other than Brad Penny and Derek Lowe, try to name another Dodger you wish was on your team. You probably can’t. Here are a few Dodgers that you have on your team already. Dioner Navarro and Edwin Jackson. Two dodgers that couldn't make the cut in LA and we had to send them to our AAA affiliate in Tampa. I bet you would love to have our starting pitching depth. Chad Billingsly, Clayton Kershaw, Eric Stults, James McDonald, (the list is basically endless). And that's just the young kids. We also have Hiroki Kuroda and Esteban Loaiza to round out the rotation. And on the field: Just the young guys again! Russel Martin!!! Literally the guy that took Dioner's job away from him. Matt Kemp! James Loney! Andy Laroche (I admit he's no comparison to Eva Longoria Parker) Chin Lung Hu. And now for the vets. The best CF in all of baseball, Andruw Jones! I doubt you'll want Raffy Furcal. Because you have such depth at SS. No wonder your team has never passed the 70 win mark. You people think that what you have will actually win.

Our Devil Rays are a team full of young, emerging superstars you wish your team had. I'll take Crawford, Upton, Longoria and Kazmir. Maybe Pena. But that's it.

We’ve now covered half the teams in Major League Baseball. Like the 14 teams that came before them, and like the 14 teams that will come hereafter, the Dodgers just ain’t shit compared to our Devil Rays. You're "Rays" are shit. So the Dodgers can't be compared to them.

We’ll prove it head-to-head only if it’s in The World Series. And only if the other team has to hit with 24 inch bats and pitch with their opposite hands and play defense with no gloves. Sure, given those circumstances you just might win. But it would be a 7 game series and come down to the last at bat.

Rumblin'... Stumblin... Tumblin'...

2008-03-11T22:58:00.002-08:00

Ned Colletti has answered a few questions from the fans over at the main Dodgers Blog Site. Lets see how he spins the Juan Pierre signing.

I've got a question for Ned. Don't you think that the team would be better with Either as the everyday left fielder? After all he's a more complete player with some power, a better OBP, and a good throwing arm. This was an indierct bash on Pierre. Great first question!!!

Posted by: fliegel@ptd.net February 28, 2008 06:53 AM

Andre is developing into a very good player. As Joe and the staff get more acquainted with Andre and others, I'm confident they'll find a way to get a solid amount of at-bats from all the outfielders. There is another factor to consider as well and that is competition. There are many times that we feel a young player is better served when they must compete for a job and compete for playing time. Andre Ethier has reached his ceiling. So has Juan Pierre. Andre is better. So having this "competition" is conterintuitive.

The competition for playing time in the outfield will hopefully increase the focus and productivity of the entire group. And make the team worse. We feel very fortunate that we have four proven outfielders plus Jason Repko and Delwyn Young. Juan Pierre is a second baseman out there. And there is always the injury factor to contend with as well. Which is why it's nice to have guys like Repko and Young but not Pierre. In the matter of a few minutes last Friday, we lost Andy Laroche for two months and nearly lost Nomar Garciaparra for a prolonged period of time. in a freak accident. We would have went from having a perceived surplus at a position, to being almost without a clear cut choice. It can happen that fast. Today, we have some outfield depth as well as competition for playing time. having 6 outfielders is overkill. The season is 162 games in length and many different unpredictable things will happen between now and the end. One thing is for sure. We aren't winning with Juan Pierre.

If you had it to do over, would you sign Pierre? I am sure he will say yes to save face but I think secretly he must be having second thoughts. At least on the length of the contract.

Posted by: jhall1218@yahoo.com February 28, 2008 09:45 AM

It's constructive to point out where the club was when we signed Juan. Then sign Kenny Lofton. A stop gap that basically better than Juan Pierre and cheaper! This offseason everyone knew there was literally a plethora of center fielders available. Now were stuck with Slappy. With J.D. Drew opting out to Boston, we had one outfielder with every day Major League experience - and that was limited to four months. Andre Ethier was called up in May and had four good months and then struggled in September. He was the only outfielder on the Major League roster with an experience who had ended the 2006 season healthy. Prior to signing Juan, we made a strong bid to sign Soriano and Lee among others, but those players did not have an interest in playing in Los Angeles. If anyone is expecting Juan to carry the club, then we've signed the wrong player. I just want Juan to pull his weight. He only weighs like 120 pounds. It shouldn't be that hard. We see him as a solid complementary player who has great speed and an admirable work ethic and with run-producing players around him in the lineup adds a strong deminision no mention of 500 plus outs, low OBP, horrid defense, and no power - without run production around him his value is dimininshed a lot. Or his value is diminished because he stinks. But you're the Gm so justify it any way you want. Last season, in my opinion, the club never got untracked. Even when we had the best record in the league in July, I didn't see it. I believe Furcal's injury added extra pressure to Pierre So it was Furcal's fault... Ned, have you been talking ot Bill again? Don't listen to that guy. He's retarded. - especially when we remember how well Furcal played in 2006 for us. I think it was compounded by the middle of the order failing to deliever more with runners on and lacking power. Consider that Pierre was only on base 33 % of the time. Ned, you're not doing yourself any favors by hanging onto the guy. We still feel that if Furcal and Pierre are healthy all season and if the middle of the order - Jones, Kent, Martin, Garciaparra, Loney and Kemp or Ethier Wait... don't say Kemp OR Ethier. You obviously meant Kemp AND Ethier right? You aren't still considering playing the worst outfielder in all of baseball are you?produce in the clutch that Juan's value to the club increases dramatically. How is it possible that his value increases because of the players around him. He isn't Steve Nash. He doesn't drive anyone in literally and he doesn't get on base enough to score a ton of runs. If the players fail to hit in the clutch in the middle of the order, and Juan is healthy and gets 200 hits and steals 60 a feat he has only done once bases, then Juan's value is diminished. Lets remember Juan stats shall we. He's going to bat about 290, OBP 330, no power, about 40 RBI's and 90 Runs. Somewhere between 130 and 150 combined runs. If Ethier played everyday he would score 85 and drive in 85. Somewhere between 160 and 190 combined runs. Who is the better player Ned? Don't tell me you think Slappy is. Don't tell me you think becaues Juan shows up early he is going to magically throw runners out at home. Because he isn't. Get rid of him already. As far as the duration of the contract is concerned, those terms are negotiated and sometimes you have to extend a player out longer than usual. If you look back at the history of our deals in the last three off-seasons, only Pierre's contract extends beyond three years. Many deals were for one or two years. Kenny Lofton anyone? I believe in negotiating the short-term deal whenever possible. From time to time, that's not possible and so you either sign the player or you pass. You really should have passed. Along with Jason Schmidt. Dope! But at the end of the day, you'd better have big league players on your club. And the day before we signed Juan Pierre we didn't have one everyday player on the roster who had played more than one full season in the big leagues as an outfielder. Ned if you have to use every word in the dictionary to justify why you signed this guy it was obviously a mistake.

Another question for Ned is after seeing what Ariz. and Colorado did last year, why do the Dodgers block their younger players with declining veterans? Why not just let the young guys play? After all even Boston stuck with Pedroria last year after a slow start and he came around to be a valuable member of that squad.

Posted by: fliegel@ptd.net March 1, 2008 08:17 AM

It's a tough call. Los Angeles might be a tougher place for a young player to play so we need to be as certain as possible that the young players are prepared as much as possible for everything that is going to come their way. It's not tougher than Boston. I guarantee you that. And it isn't because of the media. Case and Point: Bill Plaschke. In Colorado's case last year, the key players for them, in my opinion, were Helton, Holliday, Atkins, Hawpe, Francis and Tulowitzki. Of that group, only Tulowitzki is considered a young player. The rest are in their prime. Arizona is a younger club and a more accurate reflection of your point. They however, did have a vast majority of their key players in their prime as well - Byrnes, Hudson, Webb, Davis and Valverde. When we have signed the veterans, it has been because we had not witnessed enough consistency the previous season to take that chance. For example, Matt Kemp has a chance to be a tremendous player. He had a wonderful 2007 season and had an historic early few weeks in the big leagues in May of 2006. From around July 1, 2006 through the end of the season he struggled, hitting about .180 without any power (11-for-62, .177 with 0 home runs and 6 RBI). His defense and base running are areas in need of improvement. So as we entered the 2006-2007 off-season, we weren't convinced we should automatically make Matt the right fielder based on the last three months. Another example is James Loney, who looks primed for a great season. It took a little while for James to hit for power. During the 2006 season, he had hit 12 home runs in 468 at-bats and then started in Vegas in 2007 and hit one home run in 233 at-bats. And he batted 380. What were you thinking? So in more than 700 at-bats - most in AAA in a hitters league and ballpark - James had hit 13 homers. We knew the power would develop, we just didn't know when - which turned out to be last September when he hit 9 homers in little more than 100 at-bats. In some cases, we would rather err on the side of the veteran. One of the reasons being, if the veteran can't cut it, there is still a young player available. If there is no veteran available and the young player isn't ready, the cost to acquire a veteran player from another club in season would be very prohibitive. As time goes on more and more of our young players will get the opportunity to play. And a year from now, we may be fielding one of the youngest teams in the National League. Lets hope it's because you traded Juan Pierre!

He answered two other questions that I could care less about. He still feels that Andre Ethier hasn't developed yet. Dispite batting 295, 360, 460 for his career, Andre is possibly the best 4th outfielder in all of baseball. Combine that with Juan Pierre being the worst outfielder in all of baseball and you have Ned Colletti, the proudest GM in all of baseball. Too bad we have to endure 4 more years of Slappy McPopup and 2 more years of Jason Schmidt on the DL.

Tracy Ringolsby... Come on down!!!

2008-03-11T09:54:00.004-08:00

2008 Dodgers preview: McCourting success
By Tracy Ringolsby
Mar 5, 10:47 am EST

For all the questions about Frank McCourt’s ownership in Los Angeles, the Dodgers have shown a willingness to spend money in the four years that the Boston parking-lot magnate has owned the team.

It has not, however, been well spent. I have to agree. Juan Pierre? Jason Schmidt? Esteban Loaiza? (though he will be our 5th starter. I think I'd rather see someone in there from the minors and save the money. But Loaiza should do well.)

This is a team that has led the N.L. West in payroll five of the last seven years – three of four under McCourt’s guidance – and has one division title to show for it. And like 82 injuries. While the GNATS can spend twice as much and they will never win anything. Congratulations, you were the worst team in the NL West last year. Here's hoping you spend wisely in the future so you can still be in last place.

The new leadership hasn’t stood still; it just hasn’t moved forward. So it went backwards?

The Dodgers are on their third general manager (Dan Evans to Paul DePodesta to Ned Colletti) and third manager (Jim Tracy to Grady Little to Joe Torre) in four years, but still trying to find a way to rebound from a fourth-place finish. They boast about the depth of their farm system – put together under the guidance of Evans, the first employee McCourt fired – but the Dodgers show virtually no confidence in the ability of the young players. This is true. We do have a young team though. Kemp, Martin, Loney, Bills, Broxton, Ethier, Laroche, Abreu, and Hu, are all under 25. The only guys on the team that can actually be called old are Nomar, Kent, and Sweeney. (I'm not going to include Schmidt. Not because he isn't old, he is. But more because he will be injured the length of the contract.)

As a result, they plopped down $44 million over five years a year ago to sign center fielder Juan Pierre, and then moaned about his lack of plate patience and arm strength, which certainly weren’t secrets around the league. ( As I recall the Giants were offering 3 years 30 million ) Then, this offseason, the Dodgers shelled out $36.2 million over two years for center fielder Andruw Jones, who’s coming off a season in which he hit a career-low .220, and moved Pierre to left field, which means runners can now go from first to third on singles to left. That's very good analysis Tracy. Are you a freaking investigator?

That’s not all. It isn't... no?

Trying to beef up the rotation, without giving any of the well-hyped arms in the system a chance, the Dodgers spent $47 million over three years two winters ago for free-agent righthander Jason Schmidt, whose history of arm ailments with the Giants should have been wellknown to the Dodgers in light of the fact that Colletti and trainer Stan Conte both came from San Francisco. Wooohooo Tracy.... You're really on the ball today. Who were those well hyped arms? Can you name any of them?

So why the shock when Schmidt, after six starts, a 1-4 record, 6.31 ERA and 25.2 innings pitched, ended up needing mid-June shoulder surgery? That setback left the Dodgers with a best-case scenario that he could be ready this spring. And when the Dodgers were in need of a starter while trying to hang on in the pennant race last year, they ignored potential help from within and put in a waiver claim for Esteban Loaiza, much to the glee of Oakland, which was able to unload the $7.85 million he is guaranteed this year. Who then was supposed to come in from the farm? WHO? Who was ready to excell from AAA? Can you name any of them?

After all that, surely the Dodgers are ready to give the young players a shot in 2008? Think again. The two main areas where veterans are possibly blocking youth are in left field and 3rd base. The 3rd base thing has kinda solved itself. And the left field debacle is well documented. Just not by you.

They not only went out and brought in Jones, but also gave a three-year, $35.3 million contract to Japanese righthander Hiroki Kuroda, who is coming off a 12-8, 3.56 ERA campaign with the Hiroshima Carp. He has looked really good. Lets not forget that the home stadium for the Hiroshima Carp has a center field wall that is 380 feet. 380!!!

The lack of respect for the organization’s prospects permeates the clubhouse, where the old and the new have wound up feuding, and it was a major factor in Torre being hired to replace Little as manager during the offseason. Oh boy... You are a "Mole". You know what Joe Torre does to Mole's? He squashes their grapes. Better wear a cup.

While the trademark pitching remains strong, the offense has sputtered without legitimate No. 3 and No. 4 hitters. The Dodgers ranked 10th in the N.L. last year with 735 runs scored and did nothing over the winter to give fans hope that they will be any more productive in 2008. Andruw Jones anyone? How about full time from Loney and Kemp who are known producers!

Los Angeles did exercise its option on power-pitching Brad Penny, who, for all his size and bravado, barely averaged more than six innings a start in 2007. And was 3rd in the Cy Young award.

He did, however, compile a 16-4 record, which was a tribute to the Dodger bullpen. Also back is Derek Lowe, who is 40-37 (with two losing seasons) in the first three years of his four-year, $36 million contract. What a sack of crap!!! I mean seriously!!! If a 3.65 ERA and a ERA+ of 120 is really that bad, consider that he GNATS have had no pitchers with his numbers over the last 3 years. Well, I guess if you include current Dodger Jason Schmidt then ok. If you're going to bag on the Dodgers, do it towards Juan Pierre.

Chad Billingsley, the expected No. 3 starter, is one prospect who has gotten a chance to shine. Then come Kuroda and Schmidt. Or Loaiza, since Schmidt will be on the DL come opening day.

The rotation’s depth? Since they’re still paying him, the Dodgers can always turn to Loaiza. At some point, though, they will be forced to give opportunities to the promising arms of Clayton Kershaw and Eric Cyr. As a noted Dodgers fan and having considerable knowledge of the current prospects, I find Tracy's understanding of the Dodgers organization to be fikle at best. Eric Cyr!?!?! No mention of James McDonald, Erik Stults, Greg Miller, Hong Chi Kuo, Justin Orenduff, Ramon Troncoso, Jon Meloan, Eric Hull even. This dummy goes with Eric Cyr?!

The saving grace has been the bullpen, where Takashi Saito, a setup man in Japan, has emerged as one of the most consistent closers in the big leagues over the last two years. He has quality setup men with the combination of righthanders Jonathan Broxton and Scott Proctor (a Torre favorite while with the Yankees), along with lefty Joe Beimel. Good. Nice work Tracy. Takashi was also a starter and closer when he played in Japan.

Catcher Russell Martin, one of the few Dodger prospects who has been given a chance to play, has emerged as an All-Star, providing major offensive punch with his ability to get clutch hits. Since we already mentioned James Loney, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Chad Billingsly, and Johnathen Broxton as Dodgers prospects that are currently playing. Lets not forget that Delwyn Young, Tony Abreu, and Andy Laroche have been given the chance to play. Andy has been injured as has Abreu. Young is likely to make the team in a utility role.

The Dodgers did create a spot for homegrown first baseman James Loney last year, but that meant moving Nomar Garciaparra, who was in the first season of a two-year, $18.5 million deal to return to the Dodgers, to third base. He will share time there this year with Andy LaRoche, who has shown only flashes of being able to handle the job. Congratulations Cheyenne, Wyoming... You have your very own Bill Plaschke. Chalk this up to the list of the growing stupid writers. If he keeps this up he will be given his own spot on the stupid level meter. So far we have Joe Morgan, Tim McCarver, Bill Plaschke, and waiting in the wings is super prospect Tracy Ringolsby.

Veteran Jeff Kent opted to return for another year at second base. Rest assured his welcome back won’t be joyous after he pouted in the final weeks of last season about the lack of respect the young players give the Dodger veterans. This has been a well documented cat fight that stupid azz reporters, such as yourself, have blown way out of proportion.

Rafael Furcal remains at shortstop, and he’s a shadow of the explosive table-setter who originally came up with the Braves. And was injured most of the year last year. Did you do any homework before writing this Tracy?

What gets the Dodgers in trouble is their lack of infield depth. Garciaparra is the primary third baseman, but also the alternate at first. Mark Sweeney anyone?

With Pierre in left and Jones in center, Matt Kemp, a target of Kent’s barbs last September, has the edge in right. The Dodgers don’t have much experience on a bench that includes one-time Oakland phenom Andre Ethier and oft-injured Jason Repko as the outfield backups. Woot!!! Looks like a friggin awesome team. With the exception of Pierre. I would rather have oft injured Jason Repko out there. Andre Ethier on the other hand is a proven player. He has all the makings of being a 5 tool player. If he was given full playing time he would hit 25 homers, bat 290, and play great defense.

Susan Slusser covers baseball for the San Francisco Chronicle. Actually the brilliant people over at Yahoo screwed this one up. Tracy Ringolsby wrote this. All he has to do is produce a few more articles like this and he will be inculded in the Hall of Shame along with Joe Morgan, Tim McCarver, and Steve Phillips.

Dunce!

2008-03-09T23:34:00.004-08:00

Bill Plaschke:
Torre's job is bringing Dodgers to heal (broken hearts mend over time)

An ugly rift fractured the clubhouse last year, and ingredients exist for it to happen again. The new manager was hired in part to prevent a recurrence. Or becaues there was literally no one else available. Whatever, lets get this over with.

March 9, 2008

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- So far, they smile and hug and make nice.

Jeff Kent spends 20 minutes working on a swing with Andy LaRoche. ( Andy is swinging already?)

Nomar Garciaparra spends quiet moments joking with locker neighbor James Loney. AAAhhhh, good times!

Everybody watches Matt Kemp's baserunning blunder, and nobody says a word. And then Kemp hits Pierre over the head with a bat and the team cheers, screams, and even some cry together as they watch Pierre's crumpled body twitch uncontrollably on the ground.

So far this spring, the Dodgers veterans and kids look nothing like the factions whose ugly September fight cost a team its season and a manager his job. Since the fight basically happened at the end of an already lost season, I don't think the "fight" cost the team it's season or the managers job. Grady did bad enough on his own to get fired. My 7 month old son had the sense to fire the guy.

"This is family again," Loney says. As he kisses Jeff Kent on the mouth.

But look closely. Listen carefully. I can't... I'm reading.

The same ingredients that exploded in last year's turmoil still exist. It wasn't an explosion. And the main ingredient is missing. LOSING!

The same competing interests. Baseball is a competitive sport. The same diverse opinions. Did he just call me black? The same short fuses. Jeff kent is back.

In one corner are veterans at the end of their Dodgers careers. Or so we hope. Until Ned gives extensions to Jeff Kent, Nomar, and Juan Pierre just for fun.

In the other corner are kids at the threshold of their Dodgers careers. Are you ready for "Smackdown Hotel" 2008? (thankyou scully88, you're still a "Bill")

The Dodgers are family right now, sure, anybody can be a family when life is a lazy exhibition.

But come opening day, it could all change at the drop of a fly ball, and they all know it. It would be Juan to drop said "fly ball".

"Nobody can sit here and tell you it won't happen again, nobody knows that," said pitcher Derek Lowe. "People don't change. People are who they are. It's all about making the right choices." and mostly about not losing, or making lineup cards that don't have Juan Pierre on them.

Late last season, the kids made the choice to laugh too loudly and run too easily and seemingly care too little. And they had way too much fun winning while the veterans were losing.

The veterans made a choice to rip them for it. Bastards!!!

This year's clubhouse has the same youthful energy with potentially five kid contributors in Kemp, Loney, LaRoche, Andre Ethier and Russell Martin. What about Chad Billingsly, John Broxton, and Clayton Kershaw?

This year's clubhouse also has the same veteran edginess, with Kent, Lowe and Garciaparra all in the final years of their contracts. So, Mark Sweeney, 38, isn't a veteran?

So what's to keep it from blowing up again? How about.... losing?

"Experience," said Jeff Kent. When he was asked about his hemmeroid problem going away.

I though this was supposed to be an article about Torre "healing" the dodgers clubhouse? All he really has to do is any four of the million things his predecessor didn't do. Lets just start with the lineup. No Pierre... Check. Furcal, Martin, Loney, Kemp in that order... check. Then he has to make sure to make Martin take a few extra days off... Check. Now, bring the right reliever in whose name isn't Hernandez or Tomko... check. Do not let a reliever start the game... check. Do not let a starter go to the bullpenn... ( this might be getting complicated...) Just make sure you don't be a total dunce like grady little or bill plaschke... check

"Winning," said Juan Pierre. Even Juan gets it.

"Hmmmm," said Joe Torre. Oh Boy...

Experience and winning would help, but the answer can be found in the "Hmmmm."

Yeah, this is all about Joe Torre. I know... that's why the article is named "Torre's job is bringing Dodgers to heal."

This is what he must do. This is a reason why he is here. Yup. I knew that.

Torre is not just a manager, he's a soother, a fixer, a closer. Most managers fill out lineup cards, give specific direction. Torre manages to sooth, fix, and close as well... by shrugging.

Where other managers blink, Torre shrugs. See, I told you.

Where other managers scream, Torre just shows up. Where other managers cry, Joe Torre cartwheels.

He was hired not only for his resume, but his gravitas. Ding ding ding. Bill has found our secret word of the day! The kid-veteran conflict is still so fresh and tender, it can only be squashed by this giant presence. Squish it... like a grape under your big toe!

Amazingly, Torre has not said one word to his team about last year's problems. Good on him.

But quietly, he has talked to veterans, he has talked to kids, he has met with coaches, and here's what he thinks:

"Handling this, after where I've been for the last 12 years?"

He smiled and shook his head.

Again and again and again. Then he got dizzy and had to sit down and have a drink of water.

First, Torre doesn't think it was a big deal. Because most everyone will tell you, "it wasn't a big deal".

"You have to understand, everything in this game starts small, everything," he said. "From what everybody told me, this was a mountain that came out of a molehill."

Indeed, it began small. and people like you, Bill, blew it way out of proportion.

A vet didn't like Loney's approach during a certain at-bat. Another vet didn't like the way Kemp ran on a certain count. Are these specific events or are you just making crap up?

A kid thought Kent was being standoffish. Or typical. Another kid thought Luis Gonzalez was being conniving. Even more typical.

Little things, silly things, bubbling things that burst in late September when Kent finally said what nearly every veteran in the clubhouse had been thinking. "These hemmeroids are driving me nuts!!!"

Followed by Loney and Kemp's saying what every kid in the clubhouse had been thinking. "yeah, Jeff, that doesn't look too comfortable. you should see a doctor or something."

It was rip upon rip, the unchecked molehills sprouting into an Everest-sized issue in which everybody was right, and everybody was wrong, and the biggest losers were the Dodgers. Considering that by the time the "fight" happened the season was basically over.

Torre says the secret is to walk around the yard enough to recognize, and step upon, those molehills. Stupid mole's. If we just didn't have mole's like Bill Plaschke to create goofy azz news like this we wouldn't have had a bad season last year and Grady Little would still be our manager. I can take winning... just not with Grady. Lets get rid of the mole's like Bill Plaschke... Check.

"That's what my coaches and I do," he said. "We need to be aware of what is going on in that clubhouse, and when certain things start to bubble up, we will be there step in. And squash Bill Plaschke's grapes."

Torre said the conversation with a fighting kid and veteran is a simple one. Smackdown Hotel 2008!!!

"I ask them, 'You guys have an issue, what are you going to do about it?' " he said. "I tell them, 'You guys have a problem, get it fixed.' " So, he does nothing?

Like his coach Larry Bowa, Torre starts the season with a separate message for the kids and veterans.

To the kids: "You are crazy if you don't take advantage of the experienced guys."

To the veterans: "I want you to speak up if something is bothering you, but I want you to go right to the person."

If it seems Torre is favoring the veterans, well, he has more postseason victories than any manager in baseball history (76) thanks mostly to veterans. Or the 200 million dollar payroll. But we can just chalk it up to experience. Whatever.

"There's a lot of passion in this game, and I'll never try to keep guys from expressing themselves," he said.

If it seems Torre is wary of kids, well, his New York Yankees usually traded those kids for championships. Who did they trade? I remember them signing a bunch of guys and playing the kids when they were ready.

"Kids try to be as good as they can be, and that sometimes leads to tunnel vision, where they lose sight of the big picture, which is winning," he said.

But Torre said he will not play favorites, because that would lead to greater divisions.

"You just try to make sense of it all," he said. "You just try to find a way to get through it."

For now, the sense is there, although the memories are still strong.

"Last year, we didn't get it," Kent said. "We just didn't get it." When asked why he didn't use preparation H.

This year, Joe Torre must give it to them.

He's just a card or two.... or dozen short.

2008-03-09T22:35:00.000-08:00

Bill Plaschke:
Garciaparra gets third chance with Dodgers (I'm not sure about this "third" chance thing? Nomar had down year last year and he wasn't really that bad. Just no power. )

Veteran will be the team's starting third baseman on opening day after LaRoche injures his thumb and will be out two months. ( he really should just end it here. This is all we need to know)

March 8, 2008

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- He wanted a chance at forgiveness. He has just been granted two months of very public remorse. I don't know of any time that Nomar has asked for forgiveness. I don't know how "very public remorse" qualifies as forgiveness?

He wanted a chance at another contract. He has just been granted two months of very public negotiations. No one has said anything about a contract?

Nomar Garciaparra wanted one more chance to be Nomar Garciaparra. In all truth last year he looked more like Mia Hamm.

Well, that chance is now. Nice to meet you. See you down at third base. Don't blow it. Thank You Bill Plaschke. You are the new Dodgers GM. You are the new guy that determines who plays and who doesn't. Stop writing like you're a part of the organization. You're an embarassment to the english language.

The most enigmatic of Dodgers veterans has suddenly become perhaps the most important, Because he's not Juan Pierre? Garciaparra's being pushed into the lineup as the starting third baseman Friday after his young competition, Andy LaRoche, tore up his thumb. There was a good chance he was going to start anyway.

A starting third baseman who had 59 runs batted in last season. And 93 the year before. Where are you going with this?... What better way to have veteran depth as talented as Nomar?

A starting third baseman who had more errors (10) than homers (seven). Oh boy... this is going ot get intersting.

A starting third baseman who declined so precipitously from the previous season that everybody assumed he was hiding some horrid injury. He had an ops+ of 78. Just a hare better than Juan Pierre.

Nope. At age 34, Garciaparra just had a lousy season. Now, a year later, he wants the Dodgers to believe that he can find himself again. Because they are literally backed into a corner here.

Well, now they have no choice.

The competition with the kid LaRoche ended as quickly as a non-roster catcher named Danny Ardoin, attempting a pickoff against the St. Louis Cardinals, could throw the ball 90 feet and watch it ricochet into LaRoche's right hand. Why didn't ardoin dosomething like this years ago?

First things first. Where's you're crapper? I've got a brown snake playing peekaboo with my but cheeks.

Could Joe Torre please follow the lead of Grady Little and play Russell Martin every single inning of every single game for the rest of his Dodgers career? Oh boy... Bill!... CAN YOU HEAR ME??? BILL!!!..... YOU.... ARE ..... STUPID!!!!....... For those of you who don't know or have just been living under Jessica Simpsons door mat for the last 2 years, Russell Martin is a catcher. Catchers get tired because they squat and stand repreatedly throughout the game. They typically need a break once a week. Russell is young and can play through the pain. Last year he really slowed down at the end of the year. Playing him every single game will literally ruin his career.

Now, for the rest of the story. Maybe it will be quick and painless. Probably not.

It is all about Garciaparra. And has nothing to do with anyone else on the team. Because our season hinges on the play of Nomar. Even if Jeff Kent never returns healthy, Andruw Jones hits .220 with 20 Hr, and Juan Pierre is Juan Pierre, the entire Dodgers season rests on Nomar playing the first two months of the season (likely batting 7th) out of his mind.

As the spring games began, he essentially had the third-base job locked -- Torre's fondness for veterans and all -- but LaRoche had recently been gaining ground. It was probably the other way around. but ok... Chalk that up to Bill just being stupid.

LaRoche is a good kid, a hard worker, listens and learns and was hitting .350 with a homer.

Garciaparra was hitting .375 with his first homer coming earlier in Friday's game.

Oddly, one inning before LaRoche's injury, Garciaparra was struck in the wrist by a pitch and eventually wound up going to the hospital with LaRoche. This is kind of an old story now but ok... I'm not totally unimpressed with your news reporting.

For a couple of hours, Dodgers fans everywhere found themselves cheering for competing X-rays. I live in Alaska. I was sure this meant a Juan Pierre trade for either Joe Crede or Eric Chaves.

Did your horse win? Chances are, it didn't. I know... not even a hint of trading Slappy McPopup.

If you are like many Dodgers fans, you wanted LaRoche to take the job. I did.

Now, he probably won't show up at full strength until the middle of May. Shucks.

Now, maybe you are cheering for the Dodgers to trade for Chicago's Joe Crede or Detroit's Brandon Inge? Having Inge would be a disaster. A Juan Pierre like disaster. Not only is he declining, but his contract is for another 3 years!

Easy. Enough. Ned Colletti needs to save his ammo for an eventual trade for a starting pitcher. Because the 19 starting pitchers we have just isn't enough. Nevermind Clayton Kershaw has just been promoted to the major league spring training roster. Or jason Johnson is finally being Jason Johnson. Esteban has come out of his shell... and of course Jason Schmidt is finally... well, nevermind.

Garciaparra batted .307 with 19 RBIs in the first month of last season. It was his best month of the year.

If this is an issue of his brittle body breaking down, well, he should be fine until LaRoche returns.
Time for a parade. Bill just put together two logical statements back to back. If Nomar can just keep the hot corner warm until Laroche is healthy, it will spell "Good News" for the Dodgers organization. Nomar has been viewed as a supersub for this season until Laroche's injury. As it is, Nomar doesn't necessarily have a heathly streak in him. And playing 3rd isn't his "natural"position. Much has been made, though not by Bill, of Nomar arm angle when throwing from 3rd. He has a strange motion for a third baseman. One similar to a shortstop I presume. Lets hope he can stay healthy until June.

There is also the matter of convincing a six-time All-Star that he has to accept part-time play at a variety of position and pinch-hitting spots. I'm pretty sure he and Torre already talked about it. There should have been no "convincing" at all.

This could be Garciaparra's eventual role with the Dodgers, but he is the competitive sort who would never swallow it unless he was given a fair opportunity to stay in the starting job.

This chance will be fair. This will be as many as two months to show that his skills have not yet disappeared. So, you're basically telling me things I already knew. Garciaparra would be on the bench as a utility infielder / right hand bat off the bench. Basically a talented skinny Oldmendo Saenz.

If he does well, he keeps the job and LaRoche returns to the minor leagues. Until he gets injured... Then we bring up Laroche, when he should have been starting anyway, and Nomar goes down. I'm getting tired of this "veterans play first" thing that Colletti has establisted.

If Garciaparra struggles, he goes quietly to the bench while LaRoche gives the team a burst of early-season energy. Unless he gets injured. Which he already has... So it will be more like midseason energy.

LaRoche's injury simplifies a complicated situation, and gives a popular veteran one last gasp at hometown greatness. I'm going to watch the Dodgers tomorrow just to see if Garciaparra gasps.

That doesn't make it any better, just more workable. Personally I think it is a situation the Dodgers were given too get out of the Juan Pierre debacle. A mixed blassing if you ask me.

That also doesn't change the fact that the Dodgers starting third baseman will be a guy who, among the major leagues' 24 third basemen with at least 425 at-bats last season, ranked 22nd in homers and 20th in RBIs. Good thing we had a center fielder who ranked DEAD LAST in everything.

By the way, what did happen to Garciaparra last season? Maybe it had something to do with having twins. I have a 7 month old and it turned my world up side down.

I've asked and asked and, in typical elusive Garciaparra fashion, he has never quite given me a straight answer. He's a good guy. He's not going to blame anything. Especially if it was his kids.

When pressed about it again earlier this week by Times reporter Dylan Hernandez, Garciaparra talked around the issue as usual before finally saying, "I have an idea. Maybe I'll talk about it one day."

That talk needs to be action. That day is now. The world is hanging by a thread because Nomar wont talk about why had a bad season.

Bill, we all know you have issues writing drama. Mostly because every piece you write is drama. Bad drama! If all you did was give us the facts, showed up early, and stole some bases, you'd get 9 million dollars. wait... wait... wrong argument....

Bill, just stop writing. This is my plea. Stop writing.

It's time to dump Juan Pierre.

2008-03-07T12:21:00.000-09:00

I never thought it was a good signing to begin with. Colletti's view was that we had one outfielder going into last offseason so he signed Gonzo and Pierre. We probably could have gotten away with neither and let the kids rule the outfield while gaining a ton of experience and not blocking them from the future. The same could be said of our third base situation and Jason Schmidt. Signing Nomar as a 1st baseman was baaaad. Signing Jason Schmidt was worse considering he passed up on future hall of famer Greg Maddux.

Back to Pierre.

The argument that many people for him are things like, "he gets 200 hits a year", "he gets 60 stolen bases a year", "he has "intangibles"", "he shows up early", and that's about it.

The sole problem with Pierre's game is that it belongs in a different era.

In the 70's and part of the 80's almost all teams had 3 decent starting pitchers with ERA's under 4. This was the era of the 4 man rotation as well. Teams on average were scoring roughly 4 runs per game. Homeruns were scarce so runs came at a premium and had to be manufactured an way possible. Steals all of a sudden became the identity of the game.

The construction of the ball may have contributed to the fact that homeruns were scarce. The recent contributions of steroids may also have something to do with the spike in homeruns. Another possibility was that ballparks were much larger. Either way teams had to score any way possible to win games.

Todays game offers smaller parks, a different ball, and of course performance enhancing drugs. The game has evolved into getting runners on and bringing them in. Case and point would be the Red Sox. They have been among the top of the league leaders in runs scored and OBP. There is a direct correlation to those two things. It also helps to have guys like Papi and Manny. Last year even the average team scored 5 runs per game.

Having a guy like Pierre on your team means that you're playing "small ball". A term used to descibe the type of play that best represents the 70's and 80's. Since Pierre has a terrible on base percentage and even worse power, he is the perfect mold of a guy who would thrive under the conditions presented in the 70's. However, in this era... he is a good bench player.

Strike that... in this era a good bench player means you can come in and play good defense. Another attribute that Juan is missing. Statistically it has been proven that Juan Pierre has the WORST arm in all of baseball. He has gotten older and his one assett, speed, is hampered by his inability to judge a fly ball. He routinely makes bad judgements in the outfield.

Another argument for Juan is that he is nice guy. That while his abilities are mediocre at best, he has intangibles and shows up early. Intangibles = no talent. It's like saying a fat girl has a nice personality. (no offense) And to say that he shows up early might better display how bad he actually is. His weighted stats prove that he is worse than your everyday bench player. Let me get this straight... He shows up early to work on specific skills like throwing, hitting, catching, etc, and he is still not as good as Jason Repko? Also, Andre Ethier is competing for playing time against Jaun Pierre. He is by far a much better player.

In the end, Ned Colletti made a huge mistake signing Juan Pierre. It's time to scrap the idea and move on. He's also made other really REALLY bad mistakes. When is he going to make a good move that will help the Dodgers get to the World Series?

You're just ruining your reputation.

2008-03-06T18:46:00.000-09:00

Dodgers LF having a great game
If you're watching the game on ESPN, you have no doubt noticed it. He is 2 for 3 with a stolen base and a bunt single and has made two nice catches, one of which was a spectacular diving catch over by the line. Not sure who that is playing out there today ... wait, let's see, let me just check my scorecard here ... looks like it's ... hey, wow, it's Juan Pierre. Imagine that. ... Dodgers are hitless in six ABs with men in scoring position, but none of those ABs were by Pierre. Only run came on a homer by Kemp.

Congratulations Tony Jackson. You have reached the "Bill Plaschke retardedly stupid" level. Up next: "Steve Phillips homer" level. It's worse than you could have imagined!!! Still a ways off is the "Joe Morgan: I'm old and codgery" level.

Calling for a cease fire ...
... even though I know I'm not going to get one. But here's the deal: after posting a response to some comments that were posted overnight about Pierre, I am now placing a moratorium on myself. I will no longer respond to your comments bashing this guy. While you are still welcome to post, and encouraged to post, your thoughts -- this is, after all, a blog, and your thoughts are what make it work -- I'm no longer going to engage in this debate. Sounds like a surrender.

It is for the same reason that I don't believe staunch Democrats and staunch Republicans should ever discuss politics with each other -- they are NEVER going to change each other's minds. And you and I are never going to change each other's minds about Juan Pierre. You know where I stand, and I know where you stand. But there is one fact that can't be disputed, and that is this: JUAN PIERRE IS GOING TO BE THE DODGERS' EVERYDAY LF IN 2008. Not if he's traded. Or if he bats .182 again. Or if his defense in LF is just as bad as his defense in CF. Or if he never gets on base. So yeah.... You aren't going to change Joe Torre's mind, either. I'll let the play of ethier Ethier or Pierre determine that. The only thing that will change his mind is if he watches Pierre play and draws the same conclusion so many of you have, and I don't think that is going to happen because, well, as you know, I think This is what you think... Not what Torre thinks.

Pierre is going to be a key piece of this lineup, and I think Joe Torre is going to love what he brings to this lineup. We all need more out makers. There are things about his game I don't like. Try everything. The whole game conclusively. He sucks ass.

I wish he would get better at bunting his way on, or else stop trying it so often. I also wish he would draw more walks, but I don't believe that is so much a shortcoming on his part as it is the way he is pitched to. It's not his fault he doesn't swing at the first or second pitch every at bat.

But I still believe the Dodgers are better with him in the lineup. Because I still think he is the Juan Pierre of four years ago and I have decided not to look up any stats at all.

And, as I promised in a previous post, I WILL admit it if I turn out to be wrong. ... And while we may disagree, I do want to say that I appreciate all of you posting your opinions -- and I especially want to thank Mr. Weisman, not only for his well-stated comment he posted here last night making the case against Pierre, but also for his taking the time to grant me a phone interview last week on the topic for a print story I wrote about Pierre than ran in yesterday's Daily News. I thought his comments really helped to balance the story. ... And finally, I want to say this: I KNOW there have to be some JP supporters out there somewhere, people who actually like his game. If you're one of those people, don't be afraid to post your thoughts on here, as well. Slowly the Pierre supporters are changing their views.

He goes on to say this...

Greg, I never said Juan Pierre was a better player than Andre Ethier. I said he was a better fit for the Dodgers lineup than Andre Ethier, an opinion both Ned Colletti and Joe Torre seem to share. And yes, Ned was the guy who signed him, but Joe wasn't. And no matter how much everyone keeps beating this same drum on this and every other Dodgers-related blog, I don't think it's going to change the opinion of either one of those guys. As for bigcpa's point, the Marlins also had some ticker tape a few years ago with Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo at the top.

How all this adds up in Tony Jacksons mind makes absolutely no sense. He's not a better player but a better fit in the Dodgers lineup. Sounds like gagnefan38 to me. Good job Tony. Way to display your awful credentials there.

Poor guy. He must really have some kind of mental handicap.

2008-03-06T16:16:00.000-09:00

This isn't exactly about the Dodgers. It is worthy of posting just because it is so goofy bassackwards it deserves to be shamed right along with Plaschke.

So Jeremy Brown has called it quitskies, huh? You'd think that the retirement of a guy who is built somewhat like me would make me sad, but it doesn't. Instead, I danced a hora when I heard it. I doubt he knew who Brown was without doing some research. This guy likely read other columns and decided this was his chance to stick it to Billy Beane and Michael Lewis.

At least, I did the dance after the person who told me about the retirement explained to me who Brown was. I had never heard of the guy myself. There ya go. So what was that about dancing the Hora then?

For those of you who, like me, made the smart literary choice and didn't read "Moneyball," Because not expanding our knowledge of a game is a smart literary choice. Not understanding stats in general is really the best option.

Brown was the undraftable catcher the scouts passed on, but whom Oakland GM Billy Beane took with the 35th pick of the 2002 draft. (A lot of people think Beane wrote the book. Not true. The author, Michael Lewis, was an A's intern who wanted to make the boss look good. Who told you?)

When books are written about guys like Brown, you gotta wonder about the intelligence of the American book-buying public that made it into a best-seller. Just a quick note here. But when you are writing it's generally understood that you don't insult the reader.

We can only hope that Jeremy Brown's retirement will burst the bubble on the "Moneyball" experiment. Experiment? I think every team in baseball has changed their statistical outlook just because of the A's success.

Don't get me wrong. I love "Moneyball." Though I never spent more than $3.99 for the book, I probably own more copies of "Moneyball" than anyone in America. creepy.

I've got one propping up the table I'm writing on right now. I trained a puppy with two other copies, and lined the cages of some parrots with a couple of others. I don't even like birds, but I saw an opportunity to do what was right with that book, so I bought the birds and resisted the temptation to pluck 'em and fry 'em. To this day, they do nature's business on the silly words contained therein. Dude never even read the book. It's like insulting the Bible.

I have a copy of "Moneyball" under the sink in my bathroom for when we run out of toilet paper. When I go to the pistol range, I always bring one along and hang it on the line. I know book burnings have gotten a bad reputation, but if a guy came to the door and said he was starting a bonfire with copies of "Moneyball," well, I'd donate the high-test. I'm pretty sure we can find better ways to do all these things. If you want to go out and buy books just to wipe your but, be my guest. It hurts.

Here's the thing: We used to enjoy baseball just fine before all this "Moneyball" stuff started. You'd go to the ballpark or to a bar and people would talk about the game and never mention made-up stats like VROOM or SHIRK or PMS. I'm guessing this guy is old. While the math may b difficult to understand the concept is brilliant. Come up with a stat to rate players evenly.

Everyone got along just fine. Teams played, pitchers pitched, batters batted, the won-loss columns would fill up and, at the end of the year, you'd have the World Series. What was so hard about that? Baseball really has changed! So much so, that when the Dodgers most recently played the Mets this spring, instead they went in and played video games. Halo to be exact. I know we all saw Santana pitch, but that was just "MLB 08 the show". Pretty good graphix huh?

Now, I look at the stats page and it has more columns than the Parthenon. Puts an antebellum plantation to shame. LOL.
What do we need all these extra numbers for? The game is being ruined by people who would be better off watching "Star Trek" (come to think of it, one of their cockamamy stats is called WARP). HAHAHA, you are a funny guy...
What was wrong with the way things used to be? Was the game losing fans because it didn't have enough ways of measuring itself? (Did I mention the stats page has a lot of columns? It has more than the rich-boy frat house at an Ivy League school.)ROFL

The first thing we need to do is go back to our roots stats-wise. OK, just because you said so.

Stats pages on this and other Web sites should get back to basics. Just for you?

I suggest these time-honored baseball accounting practices, laid across the page in the traditional format: games played, at-bats, runs scored, hits, doubles, triples, homers, runs batted in, batting average and maybe, if there's room, stolen bases. That's 10 items. Just go get a paper man.

For pitchers, there's games, games started, wins, losses, winning percentage, saves, innings pitched, hits, strikeouts, walks and ERA. That's 11, which might be too much. Forget strikeouts. If the guy's getting people out, it will show up in his ERA. Forget everything. Better yet. Lets just not play the games.

What else do you really need to know about a guy? If you can't tell how good a player is from those basic stats, there's something seriously wrong with you -- I mean brain-damage wrong. Again with insulting the reader. Not winning any points.

If you can't tell how good a player is from those basic stats, then maybe your daddy was drunk when you were a baby and he dropped you on your head and never told anybody because he was too embarrassed or didn't remember. This isn't remotely funny. Someone should report this guy. Maybe he was dropped on his head.

If you can't tell how good a player is from those basic stats, maybe you ate some lead paint in the basement or crashed your motorcycle and hit your head against a telephone pole. Yeah... I know... It's getting old.

If you can't tell how good a player is from those basic stats, maybe Timothy Leary was your family doctor, or maybe it's just that you don't know very much about baseball. Maybe the problem is having gus like you around to ruin the game. I wouldn't doubt your the fat, drunk, loud, guy, that we all see at every game.

Here's the problem: I'm really old and I can't wipe my but anymore. And all these extra numbers that the figure diggers brew up in their maternal subgrade lairs (that's moms' basements for you laymen) make it possible for people like Jeremy Brown to try to crash the party, and that can't be a good thing. Someone wipe my but. I sharted.

The number-crumblers like equations so much, so here's one for them:

Infinite stats = infinite players

Makes sense to me: Keep adding statistics and eventually, you'll find something that will qualify everyone on the planet for being a pro ballplayer. Mark my words: Jeremy Brown was the first step on the slippery slope that will eventually lead to the ballplaying ranks being filled with ungainly looking types who should be stocking shelves or digging ditches. This is the kind of world that the "Moneyballists" have wished on us. Better watch out... here we come. ( I have a picture in my head of Austin Powers in that scene with the giant roller moving at a snails pace. )

That's why Brown's retirement is such good news. Maybe this so-called revolution is being strangled in the crib. Though this country was founded on a revolution, that doesn't mean all revolutions are a good thing. Good job. You can make arguments for me and against yourself. Win me.
Here's hoping this one is DOA, and that it has died without a single championship to show for itself. Because the red Sox winning the world series last year had nothing to do with the moneyball method.
What a fitting end to a bad idea borne in a bogus book. Here's a vote for leaving the game to the real athletes and getting the stat pages that contain their heroic deeds back to normal. Stats... heroic? Even the basic stats don't tell you about a walk off homerun.

Art Garfamudis is a writer and secretary-treasurer of the baseball chapter of the SLWEA -- the Society for Leaving Well Enough Alone. I'm gonna say the real writer of this was either Joe Morgan or Steve Phillips. What's more disturbing is that Jeremy Brown decided to retire for personal reasons. He fullfilled his moneyball type of play. Career minor league OBP: .367

Is this writing?

2008-03-06T13:27:00.000-09:00

or just Plaschke being sentimental. I'm not sure I can find his opinion on this either. he jumps from point to point trying to be non-bias but using words and phrases like... well, you'll just have to read it.

Bill Plaschke:
It's weight and see with Dodgers' Jones weight and see, I get it. That was not funny.

The new center fielder is up to about 245 pounds, 10 more than he carried during his peak seasons.

March 6 2008
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- It's the oddest sight in camp. Juan Pierre still on the team?

It's the loudest whisper in camp. What?... no really, what?... I counldn't hear that "loudest whisper". Please tell me it's another Juan Pierre trade rumor.

People are staring, people are talking, everybody is wondering, there's no way around it. The suspence is killing me... (snore)

Literally, no way around it. I know... Juan Pierre is still on the team. It's like the giant pink elephant sitting on your girlfriend.

Andruw Jones looks heavy. wait a sec... What happened to the pink elephant?

The newest Dodgers center fielder looks like the newest Dodgers wrestler. Oh Snap!!! Burrrrn.

He stalks up to home plate in his Dodgers whites and you're like, this is him? Yup!

This is the sleek center fielder who has won 10 consecutive Gold Gloves? This is the sturdy star who has never missed more than nine games in a season? This is the Dodgers' athletic new stud? Words used to descibe Jones: Sleek, Sturdy, Star, Athletic, Stud. Where is he going with this?

The Dodgers won't say if they are worried, but they have to be worried. Because you said so?

Jones smiles and says he will be fine, but the numbers don't lie. Because we are one week into Spring Training!

At his peak, when he hit 40-plus home runs with 120-plus runs batted in, he weighed 235 pounds. And now he weighs 245.

He is now about 10 pounds heavier. At his peak, he was 28 years old. Whose to say he's old now?

He will spend most of this season at age 31. Get this man some calcium. He's likely to break a hip!

"You gain weight when you get older, it happens to everyone, it's just a fact," Jones said.

That fact could be wearing on his spring batting average, which is .118 after seven games. AFTER 7 GAMES!!!

He has one single, one double, one RBI and a whole bunch of at-bats that looked like his three against the New York Mets on Tuesday. AGAIN... AFTER 7 GAMES!!!

In the first inning against Johan Santana, he struck out flailing. In the third inning against Santana, he bounced weakly to shortstop. In the sixth inning against Scott Schoeneweis, he bounced out weakly again. BLABLABLA... It's been 7 games.

He hasn't had any eventful occurrences in center field but, then again, he hasn't played that many innings yet. Jones, who has the Chinese characters for "Bull" tattooed on the back of his neck, repeats that he will be fine. How does this have to do with anything? Seriously. Becuase Jones gained 10 pounds over the offseason did the Chinese character for bull all of a sudden turn into a cow?

"I know how I have to feel, I know how strong my legs have to be, I'm working hard to get there," he said. This is non-story right now. Two weeks into the season we can go ahead and print this one out.

The Dodgers have no choice but to trust him. "Given he's new here, given his track record, we have to give him the benefit of the doubt," Manager Joe Torre said. "But that doesn't mean we don't have people paying attention to what he's doing." Jones said his weight issues dated to last season, a disappointing free-agent audition during which he said he was too light.

"Preparing for that year, my wife and I had a weight-loss contest," he said. "She won, I lost."Did he ever, dropping 15 pounds, reporting to his Atlanta Braves job at 220 pounds."I was too light," he said. "I never felt right."Several times, he said he hit fly balls that fell just short of the fence, and he wondered."I thought it was my weight," he said. "I thought I needed to get it back up.

"His 26 homers equaled the lowest of his 10-year full-time career. His 94 RBIs were his lowest total in three seasons. His on-base percentage dropped 51 points. Folks thought he was either trying too hard to get a big contract or hide a big injury.

"It was none of those things," Jones said. "I think my body was too light."This winter, he did not make the same mistake."I ate what I wanted, I did what I wanted, I tried to get back to normal," Jones said. Well, he did. And then some.

"I wasn't surprised when I saw my weight this spring," he said. "I want to be heavier. I want my legs to be stronger."But now that he has realized that maybe he went a bit overboard, he's running more, and working the weights harder."I'll be fine," he said. "I know I can still chase down fly balls. I know I can still swing a bat. I know what I have to do. Wha... ok, ok, ok... I'm awake...

"The Dodgers will watch, and hope. Even though they were able to sign him to only a two-year deal, they still will pay him $18 million a year, the highest annual value of a single contract in Dodgers history. Even if Jones has another bad year at the plate he will be worth it. Juan Pierre on the other hand will be a negative value to the team. He will actually be "stealing" money.

That's a lot of money for a weight issue that could lead to injury and ineffectiveness. Since he has literally never been injured I'm not too concerned.

"We know that in the past, he felt he was too light and it affected his performance," Torre said. "We have to respect that. Still a non-issue at the moment.

"The Dodgers are counting on Jones to respect them. All of a sudden Jones doesn't respect the Dodgers. It's the constant cat and mouse game Plaschke tries to play with the reader. When is he going to throw race out there?

Earlier this spring, Torre walked over to Jones while he was stretching. Torre asked him, in his most fatherly Torre voice, (I would have guessed motherly, but oh well.) whether he could remember his weight during his peak seasons."I told him 235 pounds," Jones said.

"He didn't say anything else." Torre didn't need to say anything else. Here's hoping Jones heard every word. Was that a threat? If he didn't say anything how was he supposed to hear it!!! Plaschke. Stop it with this crappy writing. You're making sane people sick with it. Stop It.

Let's break this down...

2008-03-06T13:12:00.001-09:00

I'm not exactly sure how Plaschke gets away with this kind of writing on such a daily basis, but the people in LA must really be hurting. I've read a handfull of this guys work and every one of them makes me want to puke.

Bill Plaschke:

Dodgers' Juan Pierre is right where he belongs. He's been booed by fans and brutalized by bloggers, but his old-school play and speed will benefit the team as he becomes a complement and not the cornerstone of the lineup. Does he mean that Juan Pierre is going to the bench?

March 5, 2008"I'm coming into this season with a chip on my shoulder . . . just like every season," says Pierre. And the last 3 season, with said chip, you sucked.

Fans don't appreciate him. Statisticians can't calculate him. Bloggers downright brutalize him. and for good reason.

I like him. because you are stupid.

Now that the Dodgers have added Rafael Furcal's health and Andruw Jones' pop, I think Juan Pierre's presence at the top of the lineup will be as oversized as his cap. That was actually kinda funny. Let me try... After 17 years of constantly shrinking his uniform, Juan Pierre can finally fit into a medium.

Now that the Dodgers have moved him to left field, I think Juan Pierre will fit as easily there as his bat fits on a bunt. So... Um... Yeah... that wasn't as good. Because seeing Juan bunt every at bat is like watching Sergio Garcia twitch 97 times before he hits the ball.

Now that Joe Torre is installing an aggressive running game, I think Pierre's ability on the basepaths will be as evident as the dirt streaks on his jersey. Lets hope those are dirt streaks.

Hate him or not. Hate him.

"My game is not pretty, it's just not pretty," Pierre says. "You have to be an old-school guy to appreciate it." Too bad we don't play in the old school era. I'm sure if we played in that era everyone would appreciate it.

That's one more reason this will be a good year for Juan Pierre. Because he is older?

Torre is one of those old-school guys who appreciates him. Because Torre is older?

"He does things the right way," Torre says. Compared to the rest of the team. Specifically Andre Ethier who is competing with Pierre for playing time. Andre likes to do the BIG things instead of the little things. And he usually does them the wrong way. He holds the bat by the fat end. He wears his helmet backwards and one time he was caught running the bases in reverse order.

Contrary to the winter hopes of many Dodgers fans, Torre's lineups have indicated that Pierre will be the starting left fielder ahead of Andre Ethier. Mostly because when torre last saw Pierre, Pierre was kinda good. Since then Pierre has become an out machine.

Pierre adds an irreplaceable speed component to the top of the Dodgers order. And, in left field, what Pierre lacks in arm, he can overcome with that speed. Because instead of throwing the ball to the infield he is going to run it in.

"Johnny Damon never had much of an arm, we moved him to left field, it worked out fine," says Torre. "You can offset that kind of arm with your aggressive play. You can get good jumps, get to balls that other guys can't." At least Damon can get on base and hit for about as much power as Ethier can.

Pierre also brings something that, during last season's doldrums, everyone seemed to forget. What can't I remember about Pierre?... Poor arm... Really fast... Low OBP... No Power... Bad defense...overpaid... significantly declinging!!!... that about sums it up.

You can find it in a locked box in his Fort Lauderdale home. 9 million dollars? Nope. I remember that part pretty good.

He's one of only three Dodgers with a World Series ring. Oh yeah... he was the guy that had 36 so-lo homeruns for the Marlins the year they beat the Yankees in the WS. He pitched in every game too. He was the only guy on the team that contributed that year. It was amazing. Too bad he really... REALLY sucks now.

"The young guys know about it, they ask about it sometimes," Pierre says. "But I don't like wearing it. I'd rather lead with my actions." Plus they don't make rings that small. From Juan himself, "Here's a good pointer for you young kids. If I show up early and practice really hard, no matter how bad I play they will give me a stupidly horrible contract for millions of dollars." Lesson learned.

Those actions were uninspiring early last year, the first of a five-year, $44-million contract that was questioned before the ink was dry. Maybe it's still wet. Let's do some investigating.

Trying too hard, he spent much of the early season surrounded by boos for a mediocre batting average, an awful on-base percentage and general ineffectiveness. Which is the Juan Pierre of the last 3 seasons now.

"Yeah, I heard everybody," Pierre says. "It was like, 'Pierre, you stink' . . . 'Pierre, go away' . . . I heard it all." don't feel too bad Juan. I did some yelling at other guys too. Namely Ned Colletti.

Funny, but the most active guy on the team never made a move. Lets define active. Juan Pierre was actively running to first base to make an out at a rate more than anyone else on the Dodgers and more than anyone else in all of baseball! Sounds right.

He never even turned his head. Gotta focus on those outs.

"To say anything would have been the worst thing in the world," he says. "Hey, I signed the big contract. I'll take the heat." It's gonna get hot. Four more years of declining numbers. Were talking HOT!!!

By the end of the season, the team was in such turmoil that nobody seemed to notice the only player who had calmed down was Pierre. Perfect timing.

He batted .308 after the All-Star break, three points higher than his average during Florida's 2003 world championship year. He finished with 41 runs batted in, the same as in the championship year. Other players on the Dodgers in limited playing time surpassed Pierre in the RBI department. Why are you even bringing this up?

He scored four fewer runs (96), stole one fewer base (64), and, with the exception of a lack of plate discipline amid a lousy offense, he performed just as he did in Florida. And the Dodgers didn't even make it to the playoffs.

In the end, Juan Pierre did exactly what Juan Pierre does. Less than mediocre.

While unfairly taking the fall for a team that crumbled around him. While it was a team effort, Pierre contributed the most to the "lack of production".

"In Florida, when we won, it was like, 'Oh, Pierre and Luis Castillo are the table-setters, they're the keys,' " Pierre says. "Here, when we struggled, it's like, 'What is that?' " Well, that's a lot of bunt outs.

This was also the first time Pierre had been criticized for his arm. Not necessarily. I remember him playing in Chicago and they ate him up.

"I've had the same arm my whole life and I'd never been criticized like this," he says. "I couldn't understand it. It's never been an issue before." I thought Juan was the kind of guy that DIDN'T RESPOND!! You just wrote it like four sentences ago.

Placing Pierre's weak arm under the spotlight -- and, in fact, putting his whole game at risk -- was the injury to Furcal. Damn you Raffy. You were the reason Juan couldn't draw a walk.

The Dodgers shortstop couldn't reach many shallow center-field balls that shortstops usually reach. I thought his speed was supposed to overcome things like this. When did it all of a sudden become the short stops job to cover half of center?

He also couldn't move Pierre along the bases as a good No. 2 hitter should do. Here's is the basis of a poorly written article by Plashke. Do any of you remember watching games from last year? Raffy lead off. Pierre batted second. Both of them played pretty bad. Raffy was hurt. And Pierre couldn't move Furcal over as good number 2 hitter should do. Is Plaschke really going to keep doing this?

Without a rangy shortstop, Pierre was playing a center field that was twice as big. This just in, McCourt extended the center field wall to 600 feet making it twice the size of all other center fields. To quote Mccourt himself he has said that now that we have a guy who can literally run the ball in faster than other players can throw it, he should be able to cover the outfield pretty good. Since when did the SS have to cover half of center field?

Without a productive No. 2 hitter, Pierre was a sports car stuck on a pot-holed road. I want to puke. Plaschke is bordering on a "Joe Morgan stupid" level. I would better describe Pierre as a little girls bike with the training wheels still on.

By the end of the season, he was listed as a Ned Colletti mistake the size of Jason Schmidt. At least Jason only hurt us for 6 games. We had to endure the Juan Pierre marathon out machine for all of the 162 games.

The situation is, he's nothing like the Jason Schmidt mistake. It's worse.

The truth is, the idea of Juan Pierre was a good one, and still is if he's on the bench.

I can't wait for Plaschke to come out and write an article bashing Pierre at the all star break. This guy has to be the worst sports writers in America!